Last Week's Tasting
The First Roses of Spring
April 17, 2024
Last week, we enjoyed the most exciting and flavorful values for the first 2023 arrivals.
They included one Austrian, a southern Italian, two from the Loire Valley, one from Languedoc in southern France, and a renowned winemaker's dimensioned California take on the region.
Roses
Return of a Favorite Value
2023 Landhaus Meyer Zweigelt Rose
Austrian winery Landhaus Meyer has made our go-to Gruner Veltliner for several vintages. Like their Gruner, their Rose is a steal. It is primarily the deliciously quaffable Zweigelt grape from vineyards near Vienna, plus a bit of Pinot Noir for savor and Cabernet to stiffen. It will lighten your palate all summer without the barest lightening of your wallet.
Aroma: Citrus & wild berry; Mouth: spicy Zweigelt tang with harmonious and drinkable palate; 15.99; Case, 13.99
Two Loire Valley Pinot Noirs
Pinot Light and Pure
2023 Romain Reverdy Sancerre Rose
One of the best values in Sancerre Pinot Noir rose, it's the product of a three-generation family estate generation family. It is the best value in Pinot Noir rose and Sancerre we have come across.
Mouth: smooth, creamy textured, fine acidity, Round Pinot fruit; Very Good Plus $22.99; Case, $19.55
Pinot Bold and Beautiful
2023 Domaine Pelle Menetou Salon Rose
Pelle, one of our favorite Loire wineries, is just outside Sancerre and makes the wine very much like it in everything but price. Like a Sancerre Rose, this is all Pinot Noir whose fleshy full fruit was born to marry salmon but will also show burgers or chicken a good time.
Mouth: juicy, fullish, very intense broad fruit, mouth-filling with a nice mineral edge, juicy, freshly fruity, pure pinot; Very Good Plus $23.99; Case, $20.349
Seductive Southern Italian
2023 Tormaresca Califaria
All from the rich and fruity Negroamaro grape grown on the shore of the southern Adriatic, this wine delivers an intense pleasure far above others at its price.
; Color: Pale Pink; Aroma: fruity and citrusy notes of pink grapefruits and white peaches accompanied by pleasant hints of marine breezes and delicate aromas of jasmine and irises; Very Good Plus $18.99; Case, $16.14
Great Value from Languedoc….
2023 Ch. Routas Rose
Color: light tan, very clean; Aroma: light fresh, pretty fragrant, rich, floral; Mouth: fruity, bright acid, simple, direct, sweet aftereffect, lingering, pleasant defining stoniness on the finish; Very Good $15.99; Case, $13.59
… and a Layered, Complex American Response
2023 Language of Yes Les Fruites Rouges Rose
Randall Grahm is a legend of California winemaking, particularly for his trailblazing work with Rhône Varieties on the Central Coast. The Language of Yes, a bilingual pun on his inspiration, Languedoc is his version of the essence of the old world through the uniqueness of the vineyards and California's (mainly) sunny disposition.
His 'Red Fruits' rose is mainly rich Grenache, given edge and spice by Cinsault with an extra level of complexity by a soupcon of the rare Provencal Tibouren grape. It is handcrafted, with just about a thousand cases made. We have a limited quantity.
; Aroma: heady, full, fat, clean, floral, fresh fruit, with a light mineral edge; Mouth: fresh, forward silky, in texture, very nice interplay between broad fruit and crisp spice; Very Good Plus $26.99; Case, $22.99
4-4/17-4 Rose Sampler – two each of the above $215
Mix any of the above wines at their discounted case prices
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