I’m realising that in rosés my preference is tending to ABP (anything but Provence)! This evening a really nice rosé from Tuscany. Widely available in Europe and Asia, but sadly not in the USA according to WS Pro.
2024 Castello di Ama Purple Rose Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (05/11/2025)
This is really rather nice in a bigger full-bodied style than, for example, Provence rosé.
The nose is rich cherries and redcurrants, fresh, forward. The palate is fruity, full, but balanced with acidity so it's not cloying. The finish is quite long and full, but more-ish.
Overall I really like this wine - it has the weight to stand up to quite spicy food (as it happens, some Xinjiang beef jerky for me). At the ~US$27 that I paid this is decent QPR. (90 points)
And this evening another excellent Italian rosé; this is the third vintage that I’ve enjoyed. Sadly also widely available in Europe, but not showing in the USA on WSPro.
2024 San Giusto a Rentennano Fuori Misura Rosato Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (06/11/2025)
I've enjoyed the previous 2 vintages of this wine, and this is at least as good if not better. It's a rosé for red wine drinkers and very different from generic Provencal rosé for example.
The nose is dark red, and slightly sweet, fruit. On the palate it is fresh, juicy, very more-ish. There's an excellent balance of acidity, fruit, and just a slightly drying edge on the finish. This works well for me as an aperitif and with food.
Sadly, the price here in HK has gone up a bit, but at the ~US$18.5 that I paid this is still very good QPR. (90 points)
Opened by a friend. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in new French Oak. Bright orange pink color. A little cauliflower on the nose. Lower acidity. Notes of orange zest, sour cherries and creamy quince. 87 points.
A discreet nose with floral and herbal elements. Garrigue, or is it maquis?
(A very) pale salmon in color. Bone dry, deep, with rough spicy edges. Saline and mineral notes dominate. Tart red fruit, rosemary. Unusual and interesting.
Domaine Tempier at Rouge in Nice. Beautiful weight and density to pair with charcuterie and grilled duck hearts. The acidity gives it more complexity that was needed to pair with the braised and candied pork knuckle.
I previously had the 2022 vintage. 35% Marselan, 35% Merlot, 15% Syrah and 15% Grenache. Impressive Rose especially for the $17 that I paid. A light strawberry color. Everything seemed to be in the right spot and proportion. Nicely spiced with tart raspberry and mineral notes. Medium bodied. 92 points.
No picture, but we had a 2023 Scherrer Dry Rosé yesterday. It’s still drinking great and was a perfect match for Asian chicken lettuce wraps. We drink a bunch of domestic rosés every year, but this might be my favorite and has been an annual purchase for us.
My second (and sadly last) bottle 9 months later. The funk is gone, the wine has calmed down and came together, now a fairly classical profile. More red than rose in color, maybe a bit cloudy. Generous red fruit with syrah spice. Really good.
We find ourselves drinking ungodly amounts of rose. Here is our current ranking of Bandol roses.
Totally arbitrary, unfair, biased, often based on one sample emptied a good while ago.
It is not meant to question or diss other preferences, this is simply how we drink at the moment.
I actually prefer most of my favorite rosés with at least a year on them from release. Rounds them out a bit, I think. I’ll start drinking my ‘24s in earnest this summer. Give your second bottle a go then and see what you think?
This estate owns 13 hectares in the French Alps. This wine is 100% Gamay from 50+ year old vines. I previously had the 2019 and 2020 vintages. Paired with a Swiss fondue. Orange pink color. A little heavier of a Rose’ with rhubarb and mineral notes. 88 points.
