Now that Summer has arrived, so has the heat and lighter fare. My go to wines are always roses...they vary and can be light and floral or hearty and fruity. Roses are beautiful as aperitifs or with cold refreshing salads and can be absolutely stunning with bbq. Check out some of my favorite go to summer roses from both the Old and New World!
2010 Swanson Rosato, Napa Valley, California
100% Sangiovese. This is my absolute favorite domestic rose. Swanson is so serious about this wine that they have dedicated a block of their Sangiovese strictly to its production! It offers notes of strawberry, watermelon and rose petals along with great acidity.
Pairs great with: Roast chicken or fried chicken and I adore it with some French Mimolette cheese!
2010 Domaine Tempier, Bandol, France
50% Mourvedre, 28% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 2% Carignan. Any lover of rose will have Domaine Tempier on the tip of their tongues. Domaine Tempier, as once claimed by Robert Parker, is believed to be the greatest rose in the world! It offers up notes strawberry, raspberry with notes of black mission figs and orange on the finish. Treat yourself to one, if you can find it!
Pairs great with: New England lobster rolls or salmon
2010 Mas Carlot, Vin de Pays d'oc, France
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah. This is one of those roses that is always a fantastic value year after year. I have been known to purchase a case of this one as a everyday go to with notes of ripe red raspberries, cherries and watermelon rind. Juicy!
Pairs great with: BBQ...perhaps with a raspberry chipotle glaze?
2010 Grand Cassagne, Costieres De Nimes, France
45% Grenache 45% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. This pretty wine is another great go to rose. As well as ripe red fruit ; strawberries and cherries, this wine also has a fantastic underlying note of minerality.
Pairs great with: A refreshing summer salad with strawberries
2010 Chateau de Pampelone, Provence, France
40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault. 20% Syrah, 10% Tibouren (a French red grape that offers intense aromatics and a garrigue character) This is a classic and elegant example of Provencal rose...rose petals, strawberries, melon, dried herbs and brilliant minerality.
Pairs great with: Stuffed squash blossoms, ratatouille topped with a fried egg or just sip as you relax on a lazy summer afternoon
2010 Cune, Rosado, Rioja, Spain (pronounced "coo-nay")
100% Tempranillo. It's easy to look straight to France for rose but Spain offers a lot of luscious roses as well. Fruity and bursting with notes of watermelon, cherry and pomegranate.
Pairs great with: Spanish omelet, grilled chicken or turkey sausages
Cool off and enjoy a glass of rose this summer!
Slainte!
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