Prepare for the summer...
Well it would be remiss of us not to really!
Yes, the sun is out and hopefully here for a while, so what more reason not to indulge in a glass or two of rosé as the sun sets. We have a lovely range to offer you from the classical Provence Rosés, to Rosés from the less well trodden regions of southern France and beyond.
Some of you may not know the first wines we shipped some 20 years ago came from Domaine Montrose, found near Pezenas located an 1 hours’ drive west of Montpellier towards Bezier. Their Rose is a lovely salmon pink colour having had just a few hours contact with the skins. This 2021 vintage is made up of the 65% Grenache, 25% Cabernet sauvignon, 10% Syrah. Crushed summer fruits, dry, with refreshing acidity makes it the perfect summer drink.
Somewhat closer to Provence is our other find circa 15 years ago –Domaine du Grand Chemin ‘Amour de Gris’.
This really is pale and hence its name ‘ Grey’, or onion skin colour. This estate is also family owned & run with 100 hectares over two sites near the small hamlet of Savignargues, near Alés. A good proportion of which is given to making this pale rosé that you’ll find in all the smart bars of Uzés and beyond.
However, if you are looking for Provence itself, then we have 3 from Chateau Miraval Provence Rosé (Jolie/Pitt/Pink Floyd fame).
This is an excellent cave co-operative from Hostellerie de Provence Pierre de Taille Rosé 2021 and the Domaine Rimauresq Cru Classé Provence Rosé.
This estate encompasses 57 hectares of prime vineyards with an average vine age of 40 years (the oldest being planted in 1930). The micro-climate at Rimauresq is unique within the appellation; the vines benefit from the cooling Mistral winds and are sheltered by the mountains from the harsh Mediterranean sun.
It is this shade that allows a longer ripening period and better fruit development in the crucial weeks prior to harvest. Grenache Noir (46%), Cinsault (27%) and Rolle (9%) provide structure, supplemented by Syrah (8%), Mourvèdre (7%), Tibouren (2%) and Carignan (1%) for complexity.
A combination of mechanical and manual fruit harvesting is carried out during the early morning to benefit from the cooler temperatures. Cold maceration on the skins for several hours prior to fermentation at a low temperature. Grapes for this “rosé de presse” are pressed and the free run juice separated. After fermentation the wines are left on their lees for three weeks with regular ‘batonnage’, improving the aromas. The wines do not undergo malolactic fermentation so as to preserve their acidity.
Ooh and it’s also organic!
Which leads us nicely onto one of our more recent wines from Spain: a lovely organic rosé from Herencia Altés, Rosat Terra Alta DO 2021.
In response to those of you whom we’ve showed it to at various tastings, you can’t get enough of it. In fact we’ve sold sold out twice! Thankfully it is now back in stock!
Lastly but by no means least, we found this rosé from a ‘live trade tasting’ that Jonathan and I attended back in February. There we tasted a ‘tank sample’ and were really excited.
I actually listed this producers Valpolicella Ripasso around 15 years ago, when we supplied Malbec Restaurant (where Jonathan used to work as a K/P/ Sous Chef).
This is the lovely Montresor Chiaretto Bardolino 2021.
The Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes are organically cultivated in the Bardolino region, southeast of Lake Garda. After harvesting the grapes they’re softly pressed, with a few hours of skin contact to give the delicate rosé colour. The wine is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
And so, that’s all for now then!
I’ll be back soon with more Vin Neuf news, events and updates soon but meantime have a wonderful summer…
Santé