Gustave Lorentz Pinot Noir Le Rosé 2013
The 2013 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Noir Le Rosé is round and supple on the palate with soft, feminine perfumed aromatics of white hand soap and potpourri, like grandma’s handbag followed by market raspberries and melon. The palate and the nose are more or less an exact match, and it’s clean and fresh, without any hard […]
Lucien le Moine Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2003
2003 was a year of extremes in Burgundy, with spring frosts and crippling heatwaves later in the summer, so how did the Lucien le Moine Chambertin-Clos de Bèze fare? Extremely well. Penetrating aromas of cherry and black raspberry, dried leaves, forest floor, woodspice, and anise lead into firm structure and a brooding, sensual intensity. Mineral […]
Château D’Esclans Whispering Angel 2014
A classic Provençal rosé, Château D’Esclans Whispering Angel 2014 is, as the name suggests, a convivial and charming romp, with just enough of a mineral and earth underpinning to keep it from floating away. Alpine strawberries and raspberries on the nose, along with line-dried linen and wet river rock. In the mouth, fine-boned delicacy and […]
Château d’Epire Savennières Cuvée Spéciale 2012
Château d’Epire’s Chenin Blanc vines are seated atop the highest hill in the Savennières appellation. There the vines benefit from added sunlight due to a southeasterly orientation, in addition to phtanit-rich soils. The Cuvée Spéciale 2012 offers up permeating aromas of poached apples and pears, white flowers, baked apples, caramel and baking spice. Given the […]
Jean Bourdy Côtes Du Jura 2009
A blend of Pinot Noir, Trousseau and Poulsard, all grown in a high-elevation alpine vineyard. Stylistically, the Jean Bourdy Côtes Du Jura Rouge 2009 is a nod to Burgundy, yet it also is a unique expression of terroir. Translucent cranberry in the glass, with delicate, ethereal aromas of clean, mountain air, underbrush, dried leaves and […]
Campuget Costières-de-Nîmes Rosé Tradition de Campuget 2014
The 2014 Château de Campuget Tradition Rosé 2014 offers a slightly earthy and wild cocktail of aromas, something akin to red forest berries, rhubarb and dusty spice. This Rhône-style blend of 30% Grenache, and 70% Syrah, sports a concentrated, translucent carmine robe, though somewhat lighter-bodied than expected, fleshed out by notes of cranberries, tart cherries, […]
Routas Côteaux Varois Rosé En Provence 2014
The 2014 Château Routas Côteaux Varois Rosé is a classic blend of 45% Cinsault, 35% Grenache and 20% Syrah. The color of ripe watermelon, this Provençal pink has quite a lot going for it, considering the price. Blood oranges, ripe raspberry, watermelon and rose petals grace the nose. On the palate, it’s soft and supple […]
Gérard Bertrand Vin de Pays d’Oc Cote des Roses 2014
Someone spent a lot of time on the packaging for this wine, from the custom bottle mold, down to the pink hued Vino-Seal glass closure. Is the wine good? For its price, the Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses 2014 is quite drinkable, with enveloping notes of ripe honeydew melon and cantaloup. There is a minerally […]
The Winemakers’ Collection Michel Rolland Cuvée No. 1 Château d’Arsac
Conjured by Michel Rolland himself—the man behind the curtain—the label touts “He currently offers advice to a hundred wine growing estates in 13 countries, on three continents. Considered the ultimate modern winemaker.” Cuvée No. 1 is big-boned with saturating aromas of raspberry jam, caramel popcorn, and buttered rum ball. Sweet on the palate, like plum […]
Château de Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé 2013
Continuing with my exploration of rosé wines, is this charming not so pink from Château de Trinquevedel, a cranberry-hued blend of 56% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 10% Clairette, 4% Syrah, 4% Bourboulenc, 3% Mourvedre and 3 % White Brenache. Enchanting aromas of linen and dried cherries, followed by Queen Anne’s Cherries, blood oranges, and watermelon with […]