Let’s Try to Rosé This Day Away!

 Rosé is so wildly popular right now, almost reminds me of when White Zinfandel made wine drinkers out of many, but the flavor profile is a bit different. It’s not just made from the Zinfandel grape, but instead it could be made from your favorite red varietal that had just enough skin contact to give it a color from salmon to watermelon. Those that have had good luck buying wine based on a pretty label can relax, now you have a pretty label, a pretty color, and it’s served chilled for your summer fun. Here are a few, all under $30 and some under $20:
ONX Wines in Paso Robles makes a Rosé of Tempranillo called “Indie” that retails for $22. “Robust acidity pleases the palate and is followed by round notes of blood orange, nectarine and passion fruit.”
Another Paso Robles winery, Vines on the Marycrest, shares their 2017 “SUMMERTIME” Rosé: A blend of 68% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 12% Syrah. Their “estate Grenache is picked-to-press, we saignée Mourvèdre and Syrah. Bright nose with lime zest, passion fruit and freshly crushed lemon grass.  The light palate is full of pink grapefruit, rhubarb and key lime.” $30
Hoi Polloi Winery has a “Crisp, pale and bone-dry Rosé” that originates from a tiny hidden, Grenache-only vineyard in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. Picked intentionally for Rosé (that is, not produced in the saignée style) this beautifully aromatic wine is hard to stop drinking on a warm summer day. We dare you to try.” $30.
Longoria Wines in the Santa Ynez Valley has a $22 Rosé that’s a blend of Tempranillo and Syrah. Their 2017 “Pink Wine” is described as having “a beautiful pink color with hints of copper. The aromas are of fresh cantaloupe and juicy apricot. On the palate the wine has a creamy texture with flavors of apricot sorbet.”
Coruce Vineyards, up in the Antelope Valley, has a 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir that sells for $22.95. “Flavors and aromas of cherries, strawberries, and violets with a rose petal and cedar finish.”
Not many cases of this one left: the 2017 Byron Blatty Rosé, 100% Grenache and all from Los Angeles County, for $27. This is an excerpt of my tasting notes: With an inviting color of rose gold I was drawn in to find aromas of ripe raspberry, lemon and lime zest, yellow peach and tropical fruit…
I even reached out to my WSET diploma-ed friend, Terry Nozick, at the Wine House in West LA for a recommendation: “For under $30, hands down my favorite Rosé is 2016 Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cotes de Provence Rose Tradition. We sell at Wine House for $26.99 per bottle. This unique wine is from the Tibouren grape, quite rare these days, and aged under ‘florette’ or yeast for one year before bottling. It gives the wine a beautiful milky soft mouthfeel. It’s so so delicious.”
From a wine aficionado friend, it was suggested that you look out for Le Cengle Rosé Cotes de Provence 2017 that retails for under $20. Described as having an “expressive nose of exotic fruits with a nice minerality. The palate is fresh and ample, it evolves on white peach and litchi (lychee) notes.”
Finally, for those really looking for a bargain, Paul Kalemkiarian of the Wine of the Month Club, recommends Chalk Hill Rosé for $4.99. Paul described it as a “versatile wine, light enough they called it a Rosé but dark enough to call it Pinot Noir. Makes an incredible summer Sangria!”
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

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