Tuesday, August 21, 2018

A Rosé Wine Tasting and Dinner


In the latest wine tasting dinner of friends "down the shore" (that's "Joisy" to you!), rosés from the Old and New Worlds were featured.  Unless you've been hiding under a rock somewhere for the last several years, or if you are a total teetotaler, you will have noticed the explosion of rosé wines each spring/summer in your local wine shop.  Indeed, we are living in the new era of rosé - and it's not your mother's or grandmother's sweet pink juice pink anymore (we're looking at you, Lancer's and Mateus!).  Just take a listen to this recent news item from NPRs Marketplace Report


Personally, I'm all in favor of the New Rosé and have already led wine tasting classes on rosés  and threw a wine party featuring rosés  - see my previous blog posts:




And so it was natural that  we would chose rosé as the theme for our summer tasting down the shore.

All wines are in the $15 -$16 range, except for the Tablas Creek which was about $22 (and well worth it) and are available in the PA stores (except for the Fulkerson which was a direct import from the Finger Lakes).  

Top wines of this tasting in my estimation and pretty much by consensus of the group were the Gris de Gris, the Tablas and the Gaia. Grab'em while you can - they may not last long on the shelves!

Cheers!

 

                             
 

Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres “Gris de Gris” Rosé 2017

                              


Appellation : Corbieres AOC  (Languedoc-Roussillon), France

Varietals : 50% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan, 5% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre

Production/Tasting Notes : Hand harvested; Gris de Gris is a blend by saignée; after a 24-hour débourbage, or settling of the must, alcoholic fermentation takes place at cool temperatures for 35 days;  Malolactic fermentation is blocked; wine rests for one month before bottling to preserve freshness and aromatic intensity; notes of raspberry, cherry and freshly picked strawberries - followed by exotic aromas such as pineapple and mango; on the palate, dense, rich fruit, vibrant acidity.

Food pairing: aperitif with toast and crushed olives, or with wok-fried vegetables and garlic mayonnaise, grilled fish, lamb tajine, finely roasted guinea-fowl with rosemary...

Alchohol: 12.5%

Notes on the Wine Producer and the Vineyards
The first vineyards at Domaine de Fontsainte, in the Corbières appellation, were planted by the Romans. Artifacts found in these vineyards, such as an old coin dating from the time of Marcus Agrippa in 25 A.D., are a testament to its antiquity. The original domaine was built around a thermal spring, which was later named for the local, twelfth-century patron saint, Saint Siméon; hence Fontsainte—the saint’s fount. Yves Laboucarié’s family has been making wine here since the seventeenth century, and we were lucky to have met him so early on in his career. For over thirty years, KLWM has been proudly importing his wine, and now we work with his son, Bruno. Like his father, one of the first vignerons working with whole cluster fermentation in the region, he believes strongly in the family’s legacy of innovation. He has re-equipped the cellars, replanted new vines, and even added new cuvées. Here at KLWM, we make no secret of why we have been working with them since 1978. In their lovely part of France, year in and year out, they are the best. The fairness of their pricing allows us to offer incredible values to our clientele.
The Fontsainte vineyards surround the hamlet of Boutenac in the area known as “The Golden Crescent.” This swath of land is one of the sunniest in the appellation of Corbières, enjoying south-southeast exposure, and protection from the cold, northeast winds by a large 500-hectare forest. The cooler sea breezes from the Mediterranean help this sun-soaked terroir achieve balance as well. Like many of the vignerons that we work with, Bruno believes that “great wines are made in the vineyard” and less in the cellars. He farms the land sustainably and keeps treatments to a minimum. Silica, clay, and limestone dominate the subsoil of Fontsainte’s vineyards. Many of their vines are older, especially the parcel known as La Demoiselle, which recently celebrated its hundredth year. Look for the highly affordable and supremely delicious Gris de Gris, a saignée rosé made from Grenache Gris—among the finest rosés on the planet.

Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé 2017

                     


Region: Paso Robles, Central Coast, California

Varietals: 64% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, 2% Counoise

Tasting Notes: Vibrant light peach color. On the nose are spicy aromatics of nectarine, grapefruit pith, yellow raspberry, and crushed rock. The mouth is bright with flavors of raspberry and watermelon, with mouthwatering acidity giving focus to a long finish with flavors of lemon drop, sea spray, and a little rose petal florality.  (90 pts., Wine Spectator)

Food Pairings:     Salmon, Sushi, Anchovies, Sausage, Fried chicken, Mediterranean tapas

Alcohol: 13%



Terra d'Ortolo Rose Ile de Beauté Corsica 2017

                          
                


Region: Corsica

Varietals: 40% Niellucciu, 30% Sciaccarellu, 15% Grenache and 15% Merlot

Tasting Notes: Aromas of strawberry and white peach plume from the glass. There is a fleshy and structured mouthfeel with vibrant acidity up front that is quickly overtaken by watermelon and strawberry fruit flavors, balanced with an underlying minerality. The finish is long and beautiful

Food Pairings: leafy-green salads, assorted shrimp dishes or grilled swordfish. 

Alcohol: 12%

Île de Beauté
The Terra d'Ortolo estate covers almost 40 acres between the sea and the mountains in the heart of Corsica, the "Isle of Beauty." Daniel Barcelo, the owner of the estate, is dedicated to a viticultural path that is completely harmonious with the stunning natural beauty of Corsica. His vineyards consist of many different native island and continental varietals, and his wines all display an elegant expression of fruit along with the unique minerality of this amazing terroir.


Waterbrook Sangiovese Rosé 2017





Region: Columbia Valley, Washington

Varietal: 100% Sangiovese

Tasting Notes: 2 months in stainless steel; cold soaked 24-60 hours; fragrant aromas of strawberry, cranberry and a hint of honeydew melon. Bright clean acid leads to a lingering finish of peach with a hint of graphite. (86 points, Wine Enthusiast)

Alcohol: 13%



Fulkerson Estate Syrah Rosé 2017


                              

Region: Finger Lakes, New York State

Varietal: 100% Syrah

Tasting Notes: Stainless steel fermentation; first vintage for this Syrah Rose; exhibits aromas of
berries and red fruit with a pleasing, balanced finish.

Alcohol: 12%

Fulkeson Vineyard Notes
Our 2.88 acres of Syrah planted in 2014, is one of the largest plantings in New York of this early ripening, vigorous variety from the northern Rhône. The site we chose to cultivate this variety is on the furthest down-slope of our original 1805 farm. The site is well drained with deep Howard series soils. This site is steep and protected from strong winds, which also allows for good air drainage, protecting the site from both high and low temperatures throughout the year. Being a mid-ripening variety, we are able to select optimal flavor and sugar levels a little better than with some of our more traditional red varieties which ripen at the end of the season.

Winemaker Notes
Fulkerson Winery is becoming more and more interested in unique varietals such as Syrah. This is typically grown in France and Australia, but does very well in the Finger Lakes. Our 2014 planting yielded 18 tons in it's second vintage and we are proud to introduce this bright, exciting Cuvée.

  
Gaia 14 18 H Rosé 2017


                   


Region: Nemea, Greece

Varietal: Agiorgitiko

Production/Tasting Notes: After harvest, the grapes are crushed and placed into stainless steel vats where they undergo a chilled maceration (50°F) for 14-18 hours in order to extract its superb rosy hue; fresh and fruity character, dominated by the flavors of cherry and gooseberry, which are typical of Agiorgitiko grapes that grow on the Nemea highlands.  Medium-bodied and well balanced, it has a cool and refreshing finish.

Food Pairing: Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine

Alcohol: 13%

Notes on Wine Producer
One of the pioneers of the modern Greek wine revolution, Gai’a Estate (pronounced Yay-ya)
was established in 1994 by Leon Karatsalos and winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. Their
mission was to capture the best that Greece’s indigenous grapes have to offer by merging
traditional viticultural and production methods with innovative techniques. The estate is
named after “Mother Earth,” in honor of the unique terroir that gives birth to these world-
class wines.
A B O U T T H E V I N E Y A R D
The grapes for the 14-18h Rosé come from vineyards located on the slopes of the
mountainous Koutsi and Asprokampos regions of Nemea, at an altitude of 2,625ft. The
climate is considerably cooler at this higher elevation, resulting in grapes with higher acidity
and berry fruit aromas, ideal for the production of rosé.

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