2004 Domaine La Suffrene Bandol Rosé

I bought this wine for $15 and took it to Haggis' house yesterday for a happy hour. I was told by the person who sold it to me that this estate made serious Rosé which competed with Domaine Tempier. They were correct.

Prior to 1996, this estate sold its grapes to the local cooperative. In 1996, they built cellars and purchased winemaking equipment to vinify the wines themselves. The estate owns 45 hectares of vines on primarily limestone soil. Their vineyards have a large proportion of old vines but the estate regularly replants vines (primarily Syrah). They practice tradional vineyard management including hand picking and a double selection. The also employ a green harvest to concentrate the fruit.

This Rosé is made of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, 10% Carignan. This wine was serious and had substantial character as mentioned by Mark Horvatich. It had crisp sharp fruit notes of cherry and blueberry together with some saffron nuances. Medium bodied. Very nice and a good QPR despite the relatively high price for a Rosé. A solid 90 points.

This wine can be found at Randolph Cellers for any Chicago members interested in it.

VM

Just like VM says.... fabulous rosé. I'll say no more, other than I wish I had some. HI=90/91

It's hot today and I'm enjoying a bottle of '04 Rose from Domaine de Nizas in Languedoc.
I highly recommend it for its fruit driven character and lovely subtle spiciness. Lovely as an aperitif, but should match well summer fish and chicken dishes.

2004 Château d'Aquéria Tavel Rosé ($16) The tiny French appellation of Tavel—roughly 2,300 acres in total—produces rosés and nothing else. Grapes have been grown at Château d'Aquéria since 1595, making it one of the oldest producers in the region. Its 2004 is elegant and bone-dry.

2003 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé ($8) The Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel fame makes this vivacious Cinsaut-based rosé from windswept vineyards on the south side of France's Mont Ventoux, on the border between the Rhône and Provence.

2003 Argiolas SerraLori Rosato ($15) Sardinia's most acclaimed winery uses handpicked grapes—Cannonau, Monica, Carignano and Bovale Sardo—from hillside vineyards for this floral, creamy rosé. Part of the wine is fermented in sealed tanks without exposure to the air, which helps keep aromas fresh and lively.

2004 Cantina Bolzano "Pischl" Lagrein Rosato ($12) Cellar master Stephan Filippi of Cantina Bolzano—a cooperative of 150 growers in Italy's Alto Adige—uses native Lagrein grapes solely from the early-ripening Pischl vineyard for this soft, dry, cherry-flavored wine.

2004 Etude Carneros Pinot Noir Rosé ($20) California's Etude, founded by Pinot Noir great Tony Soter, is known for its impressive reds. But this pale ruby wine from Etude's estate vineyards is equally complex and actually improves with a little air, turning silky and lush an hour or two after the bottle's opened.

2004 Quivira Wine Creek Ranch Mourvèdre Rosé ($14) This producer in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley made its name on powerful old-vine Zinfandels. So it's not surprising that this spicy rosé gets intensity from a small percentage of red Zinfandel (14 percent) added just before the wine is ready to be bottled.

2004 Charles Melton Rose ($16) Barossa Valley legend Charles Melton blends this flamboyant Australian rosé from Grenache, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Pinot Meunier. Its citrusy acidity and wild-berry flavors seem as Aussie in spirit as its bold ruby-pink color.

2004 Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec ($12) This boisterous, fruity rosé made by Argentine star Susana Balbo comes from Malbec grown at the foot of the Andes. Balbo bottles her more affordable selections under the Crios name: This one is rich and full of ripe strawberry fruit, with a hint of sweetness on the finish.

2004 Castaño Monastrell Rosado ($9) Dry-farmed, old-vine Monastrell—the Spanish name for Mourvèdre—from mountain vineyards near Valencia makes for a brawny, dense rosé. It's more akin to the robust rosés from France's Bandol than it is to most Spanish rosés.

2004 Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé ($15) This pale pink Provençal wine, a classic blend of Grenache, Cinsaut and Syrah, is the definition of a great dry French rosé: It's a wine of thrilling acidity with notes of fresh strawberry and watermelon—light in texture but full of flavor.

Wiseguy,

Have you tried any of those wines? The information you posted looks like the type of background info and advertising blurbs that a winery or distributor would put out. I'd be interested in your opinions, TN's and scores on any of those wines if you would share them.

VM

Yes VM, I've had each of those posted.

'04 Château d'Aquéria Tavel Rosé
86pts tasty but a little too dry for me

'03 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé
86pts not bad but somewhat boreing

'03 Argiolas SerraLori Rosato
90pts big nose, full taste, long, smooth finish for a rosé

'04 Cantina Bolzano "Pischl" Lagrein Rosato
91pts this tasted like a "diet port", all the flavor but no heat, it was a favorite of mine

'04 Etude Carneros Pinot Noir Rosé
89pts I didn't think you ever needed to decant a rosé, this was very nice after it opened up

'04 Quivira Wine Creek Ranch Mourvèdre Rosé
89pts very interesting, how complex can a rosé get

'04 Charles Melton Rosé
86pts fruit bomb rosé

'04 Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec
88pts another fruit bomb, but very good, almost zin-like

'04 Castaño Monastrell Rosado
86pts ok but thin, this would be the shortstop of this whole team

'04 Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé
91pts Rosé of the group, the dryness did not take away from the full flavor, it had the most structure of the group, for a rosé

Is that better now?

quote:

Wow, I can feel the excitement over the Summer of Rose'. Perhaps Otis set me up here.

I was only helping to bail your ass out of this situation.

I was only joking with that last part.

2004 Domaine Saint-Antoine Rose

Worked very well with roasted chicken and grilled veggies.

A very dry style of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry with a nice dose of spice and a crisp finish that left you wanting more.

I still think Americans miss out drinking Rose' in the summer. They are so food friendly!

2004 Domaine des Corbillieres Touraine Pinot Noir Rosé

Pinot Envy brought this bottle over to my house when she was in town for the CDP. This was an excellent way to end the Summer of Rosé. This was a dry wine which we served chilled. This really hit the spot on a warm afternoon barbeque on the patio. I enjoyed this much more than the score would indicate. Notes of strawberry and watermelon with some minerality thrown in. 89-90 points.

VM

Summer of Rose is still alive and well here on the left coast, although the morning's are enshrouded with a thick marine layer the afternoons and evenings are pleasant enough for grilling and sipping a nice Rose in the gazebo.
My latest is the 2004 Neveu, Sancerre Rose, $19.99. I think this is up there with the Marsannay I mentioned earlier in the thread. Lively fruit, sweet strawberry a hint of banana? It is yummy, Bill and I both thought it among the top 3 pinks of the summer. We will enjoy another bottle as we close at the season st the Hollywood Bowl this Friday night with a toast to the Summer of Rose! Thanks VM, great summer theme!

PE- Isn't it always Summer in Southern California?

VM

September 21st is the last day of summer here in LA-LA land. But, I am hoping for a bit of a heat wave towards the 3rd week of November!

2001 Swanson Rosato of Syrah

Light and refreshing with just a bit of the syrah spiciness showing through. Tasted at the winery in August with 3 friends.

2004 Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes Du Rhone Rose

Orange more than pink. Nice nose which is slightly flowery, with a touch of earth and honey. Not very much shows on the body- maybe a little earthy or spicy overtone and something a little nutty, but there's no real body to this. It finishes quite bitter and leaves no joy behind. 88pt nose, 78pt palate. Do not buy.

I must have bought this when Vino Me suggested the summer of Rose idea. See, VM, occasionally I do listen!