Rose Tasting

Walk into almost any wine store right now and you will see Rosé wines being prominently displayed. It is like a sign of summer, though you can enjoy Rosé any time of the year. It is a very food friendly wine and often just plain delicious.

I recently attended a Rosé tasting at Wine••Sense, a boutique wine store in Andover. Samanta, the owner, opened seven different Rosés, including five from France, one from Italy and one from Spain. She sells others at her store as well. Out of the seven, three particularly stood out to me.

The 2008 Domaine de la Bergerie Rosé de Loire ($12.99) is a blend of 70% Groslot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Groslot, also known as Grolleau, was a new grape to me, a red grape grown primarily in the Loire region and used mainly for Rosé. It has a dark pink color with a nose of strawberry and spice. It was dry with restrained red fruit flavors and a bit of floral notes. There were none of the common Cabernet Franc vegetal tastes. This is a good example of a French Rosé and a style I generally prefer.

The 2008 Domaine du Chateau d'Eau Rosé ($12.99) is a blend of Syrah and Cinsault. The vineyard and winery are organic and biodynamic. This wine had a bright pink color and an enticing smell of strawberry with hints of watermelon. On the palate, it is dry with nice red fruit tastes and mineral notes as well. A crisp, refreshing wine which would be perfect for a hot summer day.

The top winner of the tasting for me though was the 2008 Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina ($19.99), from the Basque region of Spain. It is a blend of 50% Hondarribi Beltza and 50% Hondarribi Zuri and has a light effervescence to it. When I was in Spain, I visited a winery that made Txacoli, both white and red, and so it has a special place in my heart. This wine had a light pink color with an alluring smell of bright red fruits. On the palate, it was fruity yet dry, crisp and with that light fizz which can be so refreshing. And at only 11% alcohol, you can drink a few glasses and won't feel woozy in the sun.

What are your favorite Rosés?

Wine••Sense
166 North Main Street
Andover, MA
Phone: 978-749-9464