War Of The Rosés

Everyone knows I love Rosé. But as much as I love it, I also have a love-hate relationship with it. Why? I live in the midwest, an area of the country that is simply lacking in Rosé. A year and a half ago, I walked into a local grocery store's wine department and was eagerly approached by a young man who wanted to help me find it. He lead me to an aisle full of White Zinfandel. What can I say? I felt bad because he did not know the difference. There wasn't any Rosé, not a single bottle. I made it a point to seek it out, whatever it took. And although I found a few, it was luck of the draw. When I visited Washington state last Summer, I found a virtual mecca of Rosé. The holy grail, the motherlode! Everywhere I went, there were Rosés everywhere! Even on my visits to California, Rosé could be found. My passion for Rosé grew by leaps and bounds. So, now it's Springtime, and nothing screams Rosé than a warm afternoon on the patio! It's time, once again, to seek and find.

Recently, I was asked to be part of a tasting panel for TasteLive as a special event celebrating "International Rosé Day" in conjunction with the "Pink Out" event in San Francisco. I couldn't wait to do this! And though I secretly wished I was sampling many Rosés at the actual event, I was extremely happy to participate virtually... I received Rosé samples from three different countries and started drooling!!! The sight of a bottle of a bottle of Rosé makes my mouth water sometimes!



The 2010 Robert Oatley Rosé Of Sangiovese Mudgee hailed from New South Wales, Australia and was crisp, refreshing and chock full of rhubarb/strawberry flavors. Sangiovese is the grape they make Chianti out of in Italy and now you can have it as a Rosé. Intense and dry with a medium reddish-peach color, it paired well with spicy pork roast. Very enjoyable. $17.



Who doesn't love sparkling wines? I've tried a lot in my day but Brut Rosé is the single reason why I enjoy sipping the bubbles. Gloria Ferrer Winery & Vineyards is located in Sonoma, California. They produce some wonderful sparkling and still wines. This event gave me the opportunity to sample their 2007 Brut Rosé, one of their vintage bottlings (and something I have not been able to find around here...). Part Pinot Noir with a bit of Chardonnay in the mix, it was a mouthful of juicy Jolly Rancher candy with dry, tight bubbles and crisp, flavorful finish. I savored it and enjoyed it tremendously. Perfect for any occasion. The 2006 vintage was priced at $42. Not sure what the 2007 will be as it is not yet available on their website but even at $42, this reasonably priced Rosé sparkler is a must for everyone. I plan to pair it with a lot of sushi and seafood.

Nothing prepared me for this next Rosé. Nothing...I was speechless. I had no idea I would be sampling a wine heralded as "The World's Greatest Rosé".



The 2007 Chateau D'Esclans Garrus. This amazing wine comes from a 19th century manor surrounded by 100 acres of vineyards in the Provence. One sip and you will understand why it is so great. Made from 70% Grenache and 30% Rolle from 80 year old vines, this small-production (250 case) wine is a very light salmon color. Don't let the color fool you. It is pure silk, creamy raspberry and amazing! And it should be. You will pay a pretty penny for this. $105. But you will talk about it for the rest of your life...I know I will!

Make some memories this Summer. Try something new and different. These three wines would be a great place to start. For more information, please check out the following websites:

www.robertoatley.com
www.gloriaferrer.com
www.chateaudesclans.com

Tried some great Rosés lately? I welcome your suggestions and samples as I will be doing some more stories on Rosé throughout the Summer!

"You Saw It Here First"...This post was created solely for "Cellarmistress' Cellar Talk" by Grace Hoffman. Grace is an Italian-born, American-bred wine blogger/educator with an all-consuming passion for wine and all it encompasses.