Everything's Coming up Rosés - the Party!

On a late Saturday afternoon in mid-August, friends gathered to sample an array of fine rosé wines and enjoy good company and food in what may indeed become an annual summertime tradition!  (Last year, the wine of choice was Sauvignon Blanc - see my post from last July.)  The only stipulation was that anyone who dared bring a bottle of Mateus or Lancer's would be relegated to an upstairs room to wallow in psychedelic nostalgia from the '70s.  Not to worry - no one breached protocol and in fact, of the 19 total bottles rendered for the occasion (including one straight Pinot Noir), there was not a single duplicate, although France definitely dominated.  The closest any bottles came to redundancy were the two from Chateau d'Esclans: "Whispering Angel" and "Rock Angel" which was the clear favorite among the crowd.

                                   
                             

We managed to open and taste 17 of the bottles and drain 16.  I was remiss in neglecting the bottle of  "Miraval" from the Jolie-Pitt winemakers, but I promise to make up for it next year.  All vintages were 2014 (except one), as rosés are typically meant to be enjoyed in the most recent vintage.  As you will see in the list below, there was a wide range of varietals and regions represented, which is an indication of how far rosés have come since the days of sweet pink Portuguese wines.

Thanks to all for your contributions and we'll see you next summer!

                                 
                              

 1. Gundlach Bundschu, Rhinefarm Rosé, Sonoma Coast, California

2. La Pépie, Domaine de la Pépière, Loire Valley, France

3. Charles & Charles Rosé, Columbia Valley, Washington State

4. Rosé d'Folie,  Jean Paul Brun, Beaujolais, France


                                   


5. Brut Nages, Costières de Nîmes, France

6. Gris Blanc, (2013), Gerard Bertrand, Pays d'Oc, France

7. Espiral, Portugal

8. Love Drunk, Mouton Noir Wines, Dundee, Oregon

                                



9. Markowilsch, (Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, Cabernet Sauvignon), Peter Weygandt Selection, Austria

10. Minuty, Côtes de Provence, France

11. La Bastide Blanche, Bandol, France

12. Touraine Noble Joué, Loire Valley, France

                        
                          


 13. Whispering Angel, Chateau d'Esclans, Côtes de Provence, France

14. Chateau Revelette, Coteaux Aix en Provence, France

15. Domaine La Blaque, Alpes de Haute Provence, France

16. Rock Angel, Chateau d'Esclans, Côtes de Provence, France


                     


 17. Miraval, Côtes de Provence, France

 18. Van Duzer, Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley, Oregon