Spanish Pink Delights

Founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, Marqués de Cáceres is now run by his daughter, Cristina Forner, the fourth generation of the wine family. The bodega is located in the community of Cenicero in La Rioja Alta.

The 2024 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Rosado is made from Tempranillo grapes. Earlier vintages had a splash of Garnacha Tinta. Alcohol clocks in at 13.5% abv and sells for around ten bucks. It isn't a terribly complex rosé, but it is quite tasty and ready to be chilled for picnics and barbecues.

This dependable rosé is a rich, pink salmon color, with a mineral-laden nose featuring lemon, strawberry, and cherry aromas. The palate is dry, fruity and laced with minerals. A good level of acidity provides for excellent food pairing and a refreshing demeanor on its own. There's a touch of orange peel on the finish. 

The wine is a great chilled sipper, but also pairs well with spring salads, summer grilling, or paella, if you're up to it. 

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A True Bargain From The Rhône Valley

The Perrin family, of Château de Beaucastel fame makes La Vieille Ferme Blanc. We're now seeing the 2024 vintage on the shelves at Trader Joe's, for a pittance.

The brand was started 45 years ago. This bottling is a Vin de France, made with four Rhône Valley grapes: Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Ugni blanc, and Vermentino. The latter is sometimes called Rolle in the Rhône Valley. If you have a Beaune to pick with that terminology, I'd advise you to Rolle with it. The wine is a great bargain, has alcohol at 12.5% abv, and goes for $7 at TJ's.

This wine has a light golden tint in the glass. Its complex nose smells of apples, pears, ripe nectarines, and Meyer lemon. The palate shows off that fruit admirably. The citrus minerality comes through like gangbusters and the acidity is as fresh as it gets. Despite the tingly acid, the mouthfeel is full and rich. It’s the best of two different worlds. For $7, it's amazing that I ever buy anything else. 

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