Rosé On The Dark Side

If you are a Nebbiolo fan, and who’s not, you should try a Nebbiolo rosé. I grabbed this one off the shelf at Eataly in Los Angeles. It was my first pink Nebbiolo, and it won’t be my last.

The 2024 Sfera Nebula Rosa Nebbiolo rosato is on the dark side of rosé. The 100% Nebbiolo grapes were grown organically in Monferrato, Piedmont, on the Crotin family estate. The juice got six to eight hours of skin contact, was vinified in stainless steel, and aged there for six months on its lees. Alcohol tips 12.5% abv and the price is $24.

This wine pours up in an orange salmon color, almost copper. The nose gives nice aromas of cherry, raspberry, and a slice of citrus minerality. The palate is full and creamy, thanks to the six months aging on the lees. The red fruit is a bit tart and a sneaky citrus note makes an appearance. The salinity lasts into the finish. This is not a pinky from the south of France. It’s darker and bolder. 

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Rosado From Rioja

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 2025 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.

Here is what I wrote about the 2024 vintage, and it stands for the 2025 edition:

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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Bargain Pink Wine

I found myself bargain hunting again. I keep telling myself to keep my eyes on the upper shelves, but the lure of a beautiful rosé for hardly any money is too much for me to resist.

The 2024 Castle Rock Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown in Monterey County, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Winemaker Meghan Daniels Rech has her signature on the label. Alcohol stays at 13% abv and it costs only $5 at Trader Joe's. 

This wine has a beautiful, rich salmon color, and great clarity. The nose is subtle, but it shows hints of strawberry, cherry, peach and citrus. The palate displays a medium acidity and feels crisp and refreshing in the mouth. Red fruit dominates the flavor profile, yet the complexity leaves something to be desired. For the $5 price, it’s hard to complain about a wine that tastes good, but I do wish there was more to think about while sipping it. By the pool? Certainly. With a pasta salad? Go for it. I roasted some walnuts while sipping it, and the wine paired well with them. 

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Bubbles For Your Valentine

The Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé will add some sparkle to your Valentine's Day, at a nice price. 

Crémant is the name for French sparkling wine made in places other than Champagne. The grapes are 80% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and a splash of Gamay, just for fun. The Pinot was grown in the Côtes Chalonnaise region, the Chardonnay came from Auxerrois, while the Gamay hails from Mâconnais. Alcohol hits only 12% abv and it can be found for less than $30. 

This wine has a brilliant pink color and produces plenty of fine white froth on the pour. The nose has a striking note of orange, joined by raspberry, cherry, and mineral aromas. The mouthfeel is full and fruit flavors nudge the toasty aspect over a bit. Medium acidity makes for a nice sip, and a pairing with cheese comes naturally. 

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Champagne for Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, we always find ourselves looking for pink wines. With bubbles, please. It's more romantic that way.

Champagne Mandois is located in the Premier Cru village of Pierry. The estate is under the control of the same family who has owned and operated it for nine generations. That's close to 250 Valentine's Days.

The Mandois non-vintage Brut Rosé Grande Réserve is made up of 30% Chardonnay grapes, 35% Pinot Noir, and 35% Pinot Meunier. Alcohol stays low at 12% abv and the retail price is $70. 

This wine pours up with a salmon pink color. The white bubbles disappear rather quickly. Aromas of ripe strawberry explode from the nose, mixing with a bit of lemon peel. The palate shows a bushel of red fruit along with a strong minerality and a citrus undercurrent. The acidity is lively and refreshing. Big time drinkability joins extreme food friendliness in this bubbly. 

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A Spanish Rosado, Redux

Today, we will revisit a Spanish pinkie. And no, I'm not referring to a member of Spain's Communist Party. It's a pink wine, y'all. 

I had an earlier vintage of the El Terrano Garnacha Rosado about five years ago. One of the Whole Foods beverage guys called it one of the choice wines from the Whole Foods "rosé garden."

Produced as a Vino La Tierra de Castilla, this pink wine is composed of mostly Garnacha grapes. They are grown in Cariñena, in the Aragon region of northeast Spain. Traditionally, the wines in that area were heavy on the alcohol, but winemakers began to go more for balance a couple of decades ago. This entry comes in at 12.5% abv and it sells at Whole Foods for about ten dollars.

The Spanish wine has an elegant copper-pink color. The nose is not exactly overpowering, but offers up some pleasant strawberry and cherry aromas. There's a slightly funky herbal tint, too. On the palate, the medium weight is abetted by an acidity that is a bit brisker than I remember it being. Red fruit flavors ride out front, while a barely chalky minerality makes things a little more complex. It serves well as an afternoon sip or a companion to a salad or sandwich. It will be a great pair with some leftover ham or turkey sandwiches on Black Friday. Stock up. 

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Long Live This Loire Valley Rosé

While searching for bargain wines at Trader Joe's I came across a rosé that I had never noticed before. The Vive La Loire! Touraine Rosé blend appears to be a non-vintage wine from the Loire Valley, specifically the Touraine region. 

The organic blend is about half and half Gamay and Cöt, a tad heavier on the Gamay. The grape description is interesting in that Gamay is usually associated with the Beaujolais region, and the use of the name Cöt, for Malbec, is generally found in the southwest part of France. Plus, I don't remember ever having a rosé wine made from Malbec. This one's exciting!

The alcohol level is perfect for a pink wine, 12% abv. The price isn't bad, either. At $12, it's a little steeper than most other rosés at Trader Joes. 

This wine has a beautiful salmon orange color in the glass, almost a copper shade. Big red fruit aromas decorate the nose, with a hint of orange peel thrown into the mix. The palate also shows that red fruit, in a big way. Cherry, strawberry, and red vines combine for a bold and complex profile. The acidity is fresh, but not bracing. This wine will be a good sipper during the spring and summer months. 

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Full-Bodied Rosé From Lodi

Michael David Winery in Lodi makes plenty of wines that have eye-catchingly oddball names. Freakshow, Lust, Rapture, The Scoundrel, the list really does go on and on. Today's wine, however, is simply called Rosé.

The Phillips family has been farming Lodi dirt since the 1860s. This brilliant pink wine is made using grapes taken from the family vineyards. Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot are blended to make this wine. It is vinified and aged in stainless steel, with no oak intervention. Alcohol is at 12% abv and the retail price is $22, although my bottle was on sale at Trader Joe's for a measly six bucks. 

This wine has a bold salmon color, very rich looking. The nose offers strawberry, peach, citrus, and a touch of lanolin aromas. The palate is fruit forward, too, and carries a refreshing acidity along with it. It is great as a sipper, but pair it with salads or cheese

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Bargain Hunting For Wine At Trader Joe's - Rosé

I'm always on the lookout for wine bargains at Trader Joe's. They nearly always have a great selection of wines that are mostly dependable in quality. I spied a rosé there named La Carayon Rose. It was made in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France. 

This wine is a pale salmon in the glass, so I expected a Provencal pinkie. The nose and palate are a bit more forceful than I find in rosés from Provence. Aromas of strawberries and cherries are joined by a significant whiff of citrus minerality. The flavors are fruit forward and the acidity is brisk, if not racy. The minerals last longest on the finish. I would pair it easily with a pasta salad or chicken salad sandwich.  

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A Lodi Rosé That's Thanksgiving Ready

A sample of this wine came to me with a recommendation that pouring pink is the thing to do for Thanksgiving. I have long been in favor of rosés for the holiday feast. Turkey, ham, and a variety of vegetables all pair perfectly with rosé. But wait, save a bottle for Black Friday and those day-after sandwiches.

AVIVO founder Ridgely Evers feels that his rosé "has the depth of flavor to complement the richness of the meal, along with crisp, refreshing acidity."

The 2023 AVIVO Rosé is made from 95% Sangiovese and 5% Syrah grapes harvested from Ledbetter Family Vineyards in the Lodi appellation. The plots are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers, and biodynamically farmed by the AVIVO crew. Winemaker Daniel Fitzgerald produces the AVIVO wines with no additives or added sugars. He uses minimal intervention winemaking techniques to allow the terroir to shine. 

Lodi folk rave about the 2023 vintage, marked by early rain and a cool growing season which made for plenty of hang time. The grapes were whole cluster pressed and vinified in a tank. Aging took place over five months in French oak barrels. Alcohol checks in light at 12.8% abv. The retail price is $24.

This wine is a copper colored rosato style of pink, slightly effervescent in the glass. The nose is fully ripe, the sweet strawberry and bright cherry aromas tinged with tangerine and lime. The palate is loaded with those red fruit flavors, a trace of spice and a refreshing acidity. Bring on those turkey sandwiches. 

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A Favorite Rosé From Year To Year

It's springtime - that means it's time for new vintages of our favorite rosé wines to enjoy. One that I look forward to each year is the Rosé of Pinot Noir from Sonoma-Cutrer. The grapes were grown in the Russian River Valley, maybe the prime spot in California for raising Pinot Noir. I found the 2023 vintage to be just as satisfying as I found the 2022 edition.

The wine was produced by Sonoma-Cutrer's Pinot Noir winemaker, Zidanelia Arcidiacono. She says, "As with prior rosé vintages, fruit was specifically grown and harvested to make this wine. Grapes were harvested in August from Sonoma-Cutrer's Vine Hill and Owsley Vineyards. Clusters were destemmed and pressed leaving the juice in direct contact with the skins for a short period of time to achieve the perfect pale pink color. Immediately afterward, grapes were gently pressed to obtain the juice."

"Each batch of rosé was fermented separately in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures." she continues, "to protect the delicate aromas and flavors. After fermentation, the rosé batches were blended together and prepared for bottling in early December." The alcohol tips only 11.9% abv and the retail price is $20.

This wine has a pale pink hue as it sits in the glass. Its nose is very pretty, full of ripe cherries and strawberries and showing hints of honeydew and tangerine. The palate plays a little more to the tart side, with a lovely savory streak to offset the fruit. The acidity is quite lively and fresh. The wine is as elegant as we might expect a rosé of Pinot Noir to be. 

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Mother Vine Wine - From Croatia To Lake County

The Shannon Family of Wines in California's Lake County considers their approach to winemaking to be earth-first. They say they are committed to creating environmentally responsible wines that knock your socks off. I was given a sample of the 2023 Organic Mother Vine Cinsault Rosé for review, and where the hell are my socks?

The Mother vine originated in Croatia in 1870 and was brought to Lake County by the Ogulin family. The Shannons say this vine has thrived for 150 years on their Home Ranch, alongside a small vineyard, a hand-dug well, a livestock barn, and a quaint winery, all built by the Ogulins.

Proprietor Clay Shannon says they collaborated with Guillaume Nursery to propagate buds and create additional Cinsault vines. He calls their Cinsault based Rosé "a testament to the pioneering Lake County winemakers."

This wine is only made in years when the season is right for it," adds Joy Merrilees, VP of Production and Winemaking. "We use the saigneé method of gently bleeding the juice off the crushed grape must. The short skin contact time gives flavor and texture to the fruit and acidity that is naturally in the grape. A very cool fermentation brings out floral notes with a delicate fruit back bone."

This rosé comes in a distinctively tall, angular bottle. Winemaker Carolina Vargas reveals that the wine was made using grapes from High Valley appellations. She says Cinsault grapes from a one-acre plot were abetted by some Grenache to enhance the midpalate. Grenache actually plays the lead role here, making up 62% of the wine, while the Cinsault grapes account for 38% of the juice. The pink wine was vinified in stainless steel, carries alcohol at 13.5% abv and it retails for $38.

This wine has a very light onion skin color to it. The nose is gorgeous. Huge notes of cherry and strawberry are joined by a bit of Meyer lemon and a jasmine floral component. The palate has all that fruit plus a streak of salinity that expresses the wine's minerality. The mouthfeel is full and lush, and yet the acidity is as zippy as it needs to be. Lovers of pink wine should definitely try to lay hands on a few bottles for the warmer months. Mine was delicious with my French potato salad with tarragon. 

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French Rosé That's Easy On The Wallet

Here is a bargain rosé from the Perrin family. They have been making wine in the south of France for more than a century. They adorn the back label of their La Ferme Julien with a quote attributed to Leonardo da Vinci: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Is it really so simple? Stay away from chemical fertilizers, use natural nutrients in the soil to bring the vines to maturity, adopt a laissez-faire attitude in the cellar. Not so difficult, I suppose.

La Ferme Julien is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault grapes, it carries alcohol at a mere 12.5% abv and I bought mine at Trader Joe's for about $7. I seem to remember the 2022 vintage was around $10, so I got quite a deal on the 2023.

This wine has a soft, light, onion skin pink hue. The nose is fresh and fruity. There is a bushel basket of strawberries in the aroma package, along with citrus minerality and that wonderful smell of rain on a hot sidewalk. The palate is dominated by the acidity, which is quite lively. Ripe red fruit is there, of course, as is a healthy dose of lemon and tangerine. The wine finishes long and the acidity keeps on working after the sip. 

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A Light And Breezy Rose From Portugal

Espiral Vinho Verde Rosé Blend is a non-vintage pink wine, about which I know little more. I'm sure there are Portuguese grapes in this wine, but nowhere could I find a tech sheet on it. The alcohol is nice and light, just 10% abv, and the price is right, too, $5 at Trader Joe's.

This wine has a rich and beautiful cherry red color. Its nose is playful enough, all watermelon candy and apples and strawberries, but with an herbal tilt that seems very elusive. I think the aroma reminds me of some wines made from North American grapes, but that is not the case here. This wine comes from Portugal's production area known as Vinho Verde. Yes, that translates to "green wine" but it actually means "young wine," meant to be enjoyed soon after bottling. The palate brings a strong showing of cherry, strawberry and a sort of Jolly Rancher note. The acidity is wonderful, delightfully tingly and quite refreshing. An earthy tone of red fruit persists after the sip. 

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Kosher Clarksburg Rosé

Oxnard may not spring to mind immediately when you start riffing through your mental Rolodex of California wine regions. The Ventura County town is home to Herzog Wine Cellars, under the umbrella of the Royal Wine Corporation. The winery's story is one of immigrant grit and determination. 

The Lineage line of wines, the latest from the winery, helps trace back the Herzog family winemaking tradition over nine generations. From Eastern Europe, to America's East Coast, to the western US, Herzog has been producing fine kosher wines all along.

The 2022 Herzog Lineage Clarksburg Rosé is kosher for Passover and delicious anytime. The website blurb says it is made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, and at first I thought it must have been a misprint. After a few sips, though, I feel it might be Cab. It's just that we hardly ever see a rosé made from Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyards are in Clarksburg, alcohol sits at 12.5% abv and the retail price is $23, but I see it online for far less. 

This wine is a pretty pink color and has a nose of ripe cherries, strawberries and citrus, along with a beautiful herbal note that suggests thyme and tarragon. The palate has all the fruit there, with minerals and a mid-level acidity. It will serve well on the table as well as on the back porch or patio as a sipper. 

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Rosé From Provence Part 2

Château La Gordonne dates back to 1652, so they must be doing something right. Their Provence rosé wines are well respected in the wine community. Nearly all the wine made in Provence is pink, so expectations are high whenever a bottle is uncorked. 

The 2023 Château La Gordonne Vérité du Terroir Tête de Cuvée Côtes de Provence Rosé was sent to me for review. With spring a reality for much of the Northern Hemisphere, it makes sense to try this wine on for size. The name, Tête de Cuvée, is French for "top blend," roughly translated. It denotes a blended wine which the maker deems to be of superior quality. Alcohol rests easy at 12.5% and the wine sells online usually for less than $20.

The wine's very Provençal color is pleasingly pink. Its nose carries a floral element along with the scent of ripe red berries and citrus. On the palate, the fruit comes first. There are also mineral notes and a nice, if not overwhelming, acidity. 

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Pink Wine From Monterey County

The Seaglass Wine Company is based in St. Helena, California, while making wines from vineyards south of Napa, in the state's Central Coast appellation. They notably pull fruit from the Los Alamos Vineyard in Santa Barbara County, but for their Rosé they went to Monterey County for the grapes.

The 2022 Seaglass Wine Rosé was made from 53% Grenache grapes, 23% Pinot Noir, 19% Syrah and 5% Viognier. The wine was crafted entirely from free-run juice, with no pressed grapes at all. The winery claims that this move helps produce a softer wine with a lighter body. Fermentation took place cold, in steel tanks, with no malolactic fermentation. Alcohol hits 13.5% and I bought the wine for less than $10.

This wine has a pale salmon color, like onion skin. The nose carries light aromas of strawberry and citrus, but easy on the lemon. On the palate, there is a lovely sense of fruit, with minerals along for the ride. Strawberry, raspberry, lemon and a very light flavor of cardamom. Acidity is fresh and the finish is lengthy. 

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Pink Wine From Provence

If spring and summer are the times for rosé wine, then let us uncork and pour something pink. If it is to be pink wine you seek, your search probably starts in the south of France, in Provence, where rosé is the name of the game.

BY.OTT Rosé Côtes de Provence 2022 is made by Domaines Ott, crafting brilliant rosé since 1912. This pink wine utilizes grapes sourced from Château de Selle and Clos Mireille, two of Ott's three estates in Provence. The wine is made under the supervision of fourth-generation winemaker Jean-Francois Ott, blended and bottled in the de Selle winery cellar. BY.OTT is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grapes. It is imported by Maisons Marques & Domaines USA of Oakland. Alcohol sits at 13% abv and the retail price is $27. That price tag may seem a bit steep for a rosé, but you pay a little extra for a bottle of the Provençal sunshine. 

This pale pink wine shows aromas of lemon, strawberry, cherry and minerals on the nose. The palate is full of bright red fruit, citrus, watermelon and a hint of cinnamon. There is a racy acidity present, which puts this wine squarely in the "food friendly" category. The sip finishes on a slightly tart note, which plays into the food friendliness a little more.

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A Pink Wine To Remember

While the spring and summer are seen as prime Drink Pink times, people seem to forget about rosés after Labor Day. It's a shame, because most rosés are great pairing with pork, foods on the Thanksgiving table, or foods on the table for Black Friday. Ham and turkey sandwiches, f'rinstance. 

Here is another rosé wine you should try to track down while the summer is here. And don't forget about it when the summer fades. La Chapelle Gordonne makes this 2022 Côtes de Provence pinkie from organic grapes grown in what they call their most beautiful vineyards. This rosé is called, on the label, a tête de cuvée. That is a term usually used in reference to Champagnes, which means top blend. 

The blend combines Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes, a fairly common cuvée in Provence. Alcohol hits only 12.5% abv and the wine sells for around $27. 

This wine has a pretty salmon pink color. Its nose is subdued to the point of being nearly absent. The flavor is all there, though. Strawberry, cherry and lemon notes are delicious, while the acidity is as fresh as you would expect from the south of France. Pair with seafood, pair with salad, pair with a ham sandwich. Or a quiche. You will have no worries. 

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Wine From France Via Texas

Scout and Cellar sells the 2020 Mixtrack Rosé wine, and it is labeled as being from France. A company rep says Scout and Cellar makes their own wine, except when they don't. They find that it is cheaper to bring the wine from overseas than it is to ship the grapes. So, the Mixtrack Rosé is grown in Provence, imported by a San Francisco concern and bottled in Texas - the company's home base. This wine has really gotten around before you unscrew the cap.

The wine is a blend of 60% Cinsault, 30% Grenache and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. I have to assume that it was made in stainless steel tanks. The alcohol content is 12.8% abv and the retail sticker reads $27.

The back label spins a story of how disco was born in French nightclubs and adopted by audiences in the US. It's not a terribly great back story, if you ask me, and a connection to disco doesn't exactly make my socks roll up and down. Also, the term mixtrack should be mixtape, I believe. But now that they have all the labels printed… what the hell. Let's open it.

This wine colors up as a pretty pink in the glass. Aromas of strawberries - stems and all - are joined by melon and citrus notes. The palate shows a delicate representation of those fruits, with a healthy slap of acidity and minerality. The mouthfeel seems a little fuller than I would expect from Provence, but the weight plays well. The finish is bright and medium long. 

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