The 2021 came off as too sweet for us, but have enjoyed other vintages.
Today is National Rose Day, another BS Hallmark holiday. BTW it’s a Root Day today.
In my experience, the stein rose is excellent. Lots of strawberry flavor. Also, try the rose secco, which is delicious.
Atlantic rose: Dunaria, Rias Baixas
Caino Tinto (as in red Vinho Verde). Volcanic nose (if there is such a thing). Rather austere as far as roses go, good acidity, with mineral and metallic notes. Tart red fruit (cranberries, pomegranate), with a pleasant salty and bitter aftertaste. Fine.
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@Vincent_Fritzsche always over-delivers.
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Just bought another case of Clos Cibonne Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes Rose. I"ve drunk the last of my 2020’s and am on 2022. Need to stock up to keep the runway going. It’s been an epiphany rose for two people I’ve opened one for this year.
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After a warm day spent cleaning the garage, I had a glass of the 2022 Caves d’Esclans ‘Whispering Angel’ rose [Cotes de Provence]. This is a joint venture between Sasha Alexis Lichine and LVMH, and is very widely distributed in my area. To wit - the screwcapper is often seen at supermarkets for $20, and Costco for $15, moving quickly during the pink sipping season. For a bottling made in mega quantities, there is some depth to this 2022, real vinuous flavor even if the color and body are light. I realize there is little love for this wine on WB, but I thought this tasted good, even if the pricing is richer than peers. For me, rose is an uncritical quaff, usually consumed by itself, and I’d assign it a B.
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Favs?
Ouch.
The label says 13.5% but it drinks like much more than that. Heady and plodding. Or is it 40C blurring the picture? It used to be an annual buy, it’s time for a pause
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Tough for me to say because they all serve a slightly different purpose and I love them all. My lean on the night was definitely French though.
2025 Balea Thakoli Rose saline but light on its feet. Crushable like few other wines on the planet.
2025 Terre Nere Etna Rosato always great, but not quite as good as the 2024 was. Shows a bit of Nerello Mascaleses tannins, that may soften and make this even better in months/ years to come.
2024 Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo intense, high acid. For the lighter rose drinker this will feel like a light red.
2025 Le Fraghe ‘Rodon’ Bardolino Chiaretto is more fruit driven. I have a lean towards the roses in this region, as the grapes can show such amazing fruit, and Bardolino is always a bit more juicy thatn Valpolicella.
2025 Goodfellow Rose intense acidity that I love. This is a food wine, and I am excited to see Goodfellow tackling the rose world now too!
2025 Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rose do everything one can imagine for the price point. It is crushable, but so elegant and finessed.
The 2023 Clos Cibonne Tradition just nails it. Elegance, freshness, substance. If I had to pick a fav.
The 2014 Clos Cibonne Special des Vignettes adds a layer of complexity and depth. Still quite oxidative. It is aged under florette, but the palate is so vibrant and fresh. This may be coming out of a dumbphase, I recall it being a bit more timid a few years back.
2024 Pradeaux Vespree as usual shows its insane grapefruit aromatics that make this one of the very best if not best Bandol Roses out there.
2018 Musar Rose is the wine I have been thinking about most. It was in my top few that night, but seems to be the one I want to drink again soonest. Perhaps because I am still in shock that this is only 3% red grapes (cinsault.) Layers of fruit, saline, and high acid. Hard to describe though and the oxidative note people are mentioning on ct means they did likely did not give it enough air.
Giboin Pineau des Charrentes. For those who do not know, these are fortified with cognac eau-de-vie. Generally they are white, but this is Merlot aged over 10 years in oak, so it lightens up in time. We paired this with Prosciutto and Melon, and I loved the pairing. Nice nutty side to this. Wish we saw more people drink these wines in general.
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2023 Cline Cellars Mourvèdre Rosé
A $3 purchase on clearance. Mouvedre sourced from three vineyards in the Contra Costa AVA. Popped and poured pre dinner at a BBQ barn. Pinkish mauve color. Notes of strawberries and rhubarb. Light to medium bodied. The acidity was not overdone but there was not much depth to this wine. I have a couple more bottles and hope they show better. 84 points.
VM
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A brace of Desire Lines rosés from different evenings a few weeks back. Both were lively, crisp and tasty. Desire Lines just keeps on delivering outstanding value at extremely reasonable prices.
• 2024 Sky Grenache Rosé
• 2024 Shake Ridge Rosé
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Which did you prefer?