Salem Wine Imports: Some Rose

Back on April 1, I stopped by Salem Wine Imports for their weekly wine tasting. The primary theme was Spring Wines with an emphasis on Rose.

We began the tasting with the 2006 Domaine Delaille Sauvignon Blanc "Unique" ($14), from the Loire region of France. This is one of the better Sauvignon Blancs I have had in some time. It had crispness with good flavors of grapefruit with a touch of melon. Not a very complicated wine but definitely enjoyable on a warm day.

Next up was our first rose, the 2007 La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rose ($7.99). This French wine is a blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Greanche and 10% Syrah. It has a nice nose of strawberry. On the palate, you taste the strawberry but it is more subdued. This is a drier Rose with a touch of spice. Definitely more Old World style. And at this price, it is an excellent value.

Then we tried the 2007 Marques de Caceres Rioja Rosado, a Spanish wine. This Rose had some of the same strawberry aromas and taste as the Ferme but its flavors were bolder, with more of a fruitier taste. It was a nice, crisp wine but closer to a New World style with its more upfront fruit. A good choice for those seeking a fruitier Rose.

We moved on to the 2007 Domaine de Fontsainte Gris de Gris Corbieres Rose ($15.99). This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache Gris and Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Carignan and 5% Cinsault. I think this wine fell between the Ferme and the Rioja. It does tend to be on the more subtle end but definitely has lively red fruit flavors. It has a richer taste and plenty of complexity, especially for this price point. It is a very satisfying wine, sure to please the palate. I very much enjoyed this wine and would highly recommend it.

We ended the evening with a 2006 Mas Sainte Berthe Pavel Rose ($16.99) from the Provence region of France. The Provence region produces some amazing Roses, at all price points. One of my favorite producers is Domaine Tempier, who are quite famous for their outstanding Roses. The Mas Sainte Berthe certainly tasted well. It is again an Old World style, subtle Rose. It has good red fruit flavors as well as mineral notes. It has complexity and good structure. And though most Roses should be drank early, this is a Rose where the age has not affected its taste at all.

Another fun evening of wine tasting in Salem.

Salem Wine Imports
32 Church St.
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463