Tuesday Night Wines

Hello everyone and welcome back for another installment of Tuesday Night Value Wines.  Ok, I know its Wednesday and I am a little late, but it’s still mid-week and we can all take advantage of great wines and great deals.  I’m not sure where everyone might be reading this, but here in Sacramento, California the weather has been quite a roller coaster the last week or so.  Well in anticipation of spring, which is technically here, and summer which is fastly approaching I thought what better than to select a wine that is perfect with warm weather, Dry Rosé.

Chateau Rouet Dry Rosé 2009, Cotes de Provence-France

  

First off, we need to get over the hurdle of preconceived notions that rosé wines are sweet, because they are not…most of the time.  Let’s also take White Zinfandel off the table immediately, because although it is technically wine, at the same time it’s kind of not.  

Chateau Rouet is a blend of mostly Grenache with some Syrah and Cinsault to round out the blend.  The Grenache gives a great soft base, providing the fruit and the body of the wine, where the Syrah adds a bit of body, depth, and color (hard to believe given the color) and the Cinsault rounds out the palate with secondary notes and acidity.  The color is classic yellow onion skin, not quite pink and not quite orange, simply something in-between.  The wines looks bright and inviting, with soft pale tinges towards the edge.

The aromas of this wine are moderate but pronounced.  Loads of peach and cherry skins are at the core, with subtle florality and lavender herbs tinges around the edges.  The wine has some great mineral notes as well, but leans mostly on being a soft and easy approachable rosé.  

Flavors are definitely consistent for the fruits, with a bit of orange accents complimenting the subtle herbal tinges toward the back end.  The finish is bright and racy with acidity, and there is balance on this moderately long finish.  

The Chateau Rouet is not the most complex rosé I have ever had, but it’s not supposed to be either.  I currently pour it by the glass on my wine menu, www.enotria.com, at under $7 a glass.  I am currently running this wine on special for only $9 a bottle so it is that perfect selection for a value wine.

Chill one of these down and go on a picnic with someone special, strawberries, peaches, and cheeses-what could be better.  For more significant fare, spicy seafood and light summer-style foods do work best.

Cheers!