Rosé Tasting
Last night my wife and I went to a rosé wine tasting at the Kindred Spirits & Wine location in Fairfield, Connecticut. Rosés are the perfect summer wine. Firstly, rosés are versatile. They can be enjoyed with a variety of dishes typically served in the summer: barbecue, grilled meats, fish dishes, and salads. They also can be enjoyed on their on their own on the patio or by the beach.
Whites, of course, are also an ideal summer wine. But for versatility this time of year, go with a rosé. Don’t get me wrong, there is always a place for a big, bold red this time of year, especially for that perfectly grilled steak (rare, of course). But, for most of the dishes you will enjoy, rosé it is.
One of the fun facts we learned from our host was that rosés destined for the American market are lighter in color than rosés sold in Europe. The host said this is because Americans tend to prefer lighter-colored rosés. Americans, she said, tend to associate more intensely colored rosés with a higher level of sweetness. In fact, she said, for rosés sold in Europe, the opposite is true. The more intense the color, the drier the wine.
My guess is that Americans’ association of intense pink with sweetness is a legacy of White Zinfandel, the beverage of choice for wine moms in the 1990s. For many years, rosé = White Zinfandel (“white zin” as we called it). In the last ten years, European rosés arrived on our shores and elevated the style tremendously. But to distinguish themselves in the American market, they had to get past the image of cheap, cloying White Zinfandel. It seems the way they did that was to produce lighter colored rosés than they did for their home markets. It would be interesting to try a traditional European rosé, but that may require a trip across the pond.
We sampled ten rosés last night: four from France, two from Spain, one German, and one American. This was a blind tasting, so we did not know what we were drinking as we rated the wines while we sipped.
A quick note on aging rosés. They can be aged, but not for over a year. Rosés that are aged settle in the bottle. They open up and flavors are released and tannins mellow. Of course, any rosé can be enjoyed straight away, but try getting two bottles with your purchase. Enjoy one this summer and the other one next year. Compare your tasting notes and see if you detect a change.
Here are the wines we sampled, ordered by my favorites.
Rosé Wines
| Rating | Name | Country | Price | Tasting Notes | Pairings |
| 1 | Wölffer Estate | USA (Long Island, NY) | $17.99 | A blend of Merlot (69%), Cabernet Franc (18%), Chardonnay (6%), Cabernet Sauvignon (3%), and 1% each of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. The wine is light pink in the glass. It has a nice fruit with a bit of a smokiness. The fruit is balanced and there is nice tannin finish to give it some structure. | Grilled meats |
| 2 | Gassier Le Pas du Moine Côtes de Provence St. Victoir | France | $29.97 | The wine is almost clear in the glass with a light gold tint. It has a strong, berry nose. The wine is delicious, with notes of cherry, lychee, and berries. It has a lovely berry finish. | Salads, cheese |
| 3 | Domain Baudry Chinon | France | $22.97 | Made from Cabernet Franc, this wine has a good rosé color in the glass. It has a nice earthiness on the nose, but it is slight. The wine is grassy, with earthy, bold notes. It has a nice tannic finish to give it backbone. | Grilled meats, cheeses |
| 4 | Mademoiselle Florensac | Spain | $15.95 | A blend of Monastrell and Tempranillo grapes, it was aged a year in oak. The wine has a lovely gold color in the glass and a floral nose. It has a very forward fruit flavor, with hints of black cherries and roasted plums. The tannins are refined and elegant. | Cheeses, salads, fish |
| 5 | Graci Etna Rosato | Italy (Sicily) | $22.97 | Made with 100% Nerello Mascalese grapes. The wine is light gold in the glass. It is fruity with a light notes of mineral and ash. The finish is light and delicate. | Fruits de mer, swordfish, Italian cheeses |
| 6 | Whispering Angel | France | $19.99 | Made from Grenache, Cinsault, and Rolle (Vermintino) grapes. Very light rose color with light fruit. The has a crisp taste with a delicate fruit finish. | Fish, salads, bold cheeses |
| 7 | Koehler-Ruprecht Trocken Pinot Noir Rosé | Germany | $21.97 | As the name implies, this is made with 100% Pinot Noir. It had a grassy nose with straw notes. There was a touch of earthiness with fruit undertones. The finish was earthy. Others in our group felt that it tasted oily, but I did not get that. It was not a favorite of ours. | Fruits de mer, seafood, mild cheeses |
| 8 | Bodegas Bleda Castillo de Jumilla Rosado | Spain | $11.95 | Orange in the glass with a really aggressive fruit flavor. It had a strong tannin backbone and a tannic finish. I would recommend aging this for a year to let the tannins settle. | Salads, Spanish cheeses |
| 9 | Chateau Leon Bordeaux | France | $16.95 | In this glass, this wine is light pink. The wine is really nondescript. There is not much in the way of aroma, taste, or finish to it. It is the kind of wine I would drink on its own on a sunny afternoon. | Fruits, bold cheeses |
| 10 | Chateau Trians Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé | France | $19.95 | Wine is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. In the glass, it looked like a white wine rather than a rosé. There was hardly anything in the nose, and the finish was tannic. There are some hints of fruit to it, but I did not get that. This wine would also do with a year of aging to see what emerges after the tannins settle. | Fruits de mer, fruits, seafood, bold cheeses |
Cheers!
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