Are you seeing a theme with me? If you aren't, you should... I LOVE ROSE! I drink it all year long in its various forms and I love them all! Still, sparkling, so many different regions and grape varieties to choose from! It is one of the most versatile wines out there in my opinion. And for Valentine's Day, it's a no brainer!
Here are some of my favorites:
Rendardat-Fache Cerdon de Bugey - a Louis/Dressner Selection - Sparkling, lightly sweet, light alcohol. This is pure bliss in a glass. Made from gamay and poulsard in the ancestral method. Incredible fizzy mousse, delicate aromas and flavors of raspberries. Gorgeous dark pink color. Looks incredible in the glass and on the table, like a present. GOES DOWN EEEEEEASYYYYYY...Buy more than one bottle. (you will thank me for that advice.) Just buy a case. You'll drink it.
Strohmeier Schilcher Sekt - a Monika Caha Selection- If there is a polar opposite to Bugey Cerdon, this is it. The mousse is the only connection. SUPER fizzy mousse. I love it! But this baby is BONE DRY. Beautiful pale pink color, aromas and flavors of tart strawberries. Made from the grape blauer wildbacher from the Styria region of Austria. I can't say it much better than Nico from Williams Corner Wine so I'm quoting:
"Because (in the words of Gary V) this wine is bringing the thunder!
So here’s the deal: Drink it with someone special[your Valentine!!] while enjoying something delicious (roast duck maybe.) Be sure to save one glass to drink the next day for breakfast or lunch (if you can wait that long…).
This is a no sulphur, no dosage, methode ancestrale sparkling rosé. It tastes better than most rosé champagne out there on the market that cost three times as much! For me, this is one of the truest and purest manifestations of natural wine. It is unadulterated, yet clean. Alive, refreshing, deeply fruited, taut, balanced. I could go on and on." (didn't want a huge indent sorry.)
Domaines Piron Gamay Rose - A beautiful, delicate expression of Gamay from Beaujolais. This one is SUPER pale, subtle but complex. Gorgeous fruit. Very light. Don't serve it too cold or the fruit will withhold itself from you; and you don't want that, now do you? Served close to cave temp in the mid 50s somewhere and it's sublime.
And probably my second favorite after the Bugey: J. Mourat Rose - Fiefs Vendeens - A gorgeous blend of Pinot Noir, Negrette and Cabernet Franc. Extremely complex and absolutely delicious. Photo credit to Hardy Wallace, taken at Dynamic Dish in ATL! YUM!
Lastly, one I haven't tasted in awhile but used to like qutie a bit is Rose di Regaleali a Sicilian deep, dark pink, fairly intense flavors. Find it if you can.
Have a favorite rose? SHARE IT HERE!
Like you, I love Rose and could drink it every night. I have been hoping one of my wine blogger friends would post their favorite Roses...Valentine's Day happens to be my birthday and I plan to celebrate with a bottle (or two) of this lovely pink wine. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThe Strohmeier Schilcher sounds delicous. Is the importer on the bottle? I can't seem to find much information on it and would love to see if I can get hold of a bottle.
ReplyDeleteTwo of my favorite rose wines are Graham Beck (from South Africa) and Mumm Napa. Both are around $15 - $17 and are delicious. For just a few dollars more, the Schramsberg Mirabelle is also quite tasty. For those times when budget doesn't matter as much, we love Dom Ruinart and Billecart-Salmon.
For still wines, we just pick up an assortment at two of our favorite local shops that keep a steady supply of inexpensive ones from all over France. We rarely repeat.
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. The Strohmeier is fantastic and I can't believe I didn't say that it is a Monika Caha Selection. Everything she brings over that I've tasted is absolutely delicious. Http://www.mcselections.com should enable you to find the wines. I might be able to help too. Where are you?
You have convinced me to give Rose another try!
ReplyDeleteYay! Another convert!
ReplyDelete