Rose Rose’ with grilled shrimp and scallops
We hosted several of Linda’s dear friends, Kay, Marilou and Pat, at our Destin (FL) vacation rental home this week.
Linda prepared grilled shrimp and sea scallops with mixed grilled vegetables and sticky rice and salad for a festive dinner.
I opened a couple of Rose’ wines I brought from our home cellar for the occasion. We’ve had fun exploring Rose’ wines this summer, partly spurred on by reading about Frances’ love of this wine as a summer libation as highlighted by my favorite author’s books about life in Provence of Southern France.
In addition to just having finished reading two of Peter Mayles’ classic books about Provence, I was also inspired to imbibe in some traditional Rose’ by the visit of our French friend, Phillipe, who hails from the area and hosted us on our trip there a couple years ago. I wrote about this and those books in an earlier blogpost - Château d’Aqueria Tavel Southern Côtes du Rhône Rose’.
We drove through the region and Côtes de Provence along the Cote d’ Azur during our Four days in Provence - Aix - Meyrargues trip in 2019. The area is featured in a separate blogpost about that trip - Red Wine with Chili? Bandol.
I took a Provençal Rose’ to dinner and wrote about it in this post - BYOB Fine Wines and Live Jazz at Suzette’s Creperie Wheaton - Caves d'Esclans “The Palm” Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence, Rose’ Blend 2024.
We drank a Rose’ wine of one the producers we visited that trip and wrote about it in this post - La Nerthe Côtes du Rhône Les Cassagnes Rose.
My appreciation for Rose’ as a serious wine drinking was piqued when it was included as a pairing with a course at three Michelin Star restaurant Alinea last year. That entire dinner and wine flight are featured in this blogpost - Magnificent Dinner at Alinea Kitchen Table. We drank and wrote about that producer’s wine in a follow on tasting and blogpost - Domaines Ott Château de Selle Côtes de Provence Mourvedre Blend Rose' 2020. From that experience, son Ryan acquired this producer’s wine and brought to our Memorial Day afternoon cook-out dinner on the deck for casual summer sipping.
We enjoyed a couple other Rose’ labels as featured in these posts - one from Southern France Cotes’ du Rossilion - Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors, and a Napa Valley label - Summer wine for summer outdoor grill dinner.
So it was that I brought from home two diverse Rose’ labels - one from the Languedoc in the south of France, and one from, of all plaees, Illinois! Both wines were delightful and exceeded my expectations for a wonderful food wine pairing accompaniment, and the ladies loved them as well. As I’ve often written in these pages, an optimal food/wine pairing amplifies and ameliorates the enjoyment of both!
Gérard Bertrand Cote des Roses 2023
The Languedoc region spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley confluence with the sea near Marseille. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
The extensive appellation produces a diverse selection of good quality and great value wines.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
There are also some International varieties planted in large numbers there, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The region also produces sparkling wines is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limouxis produced in a more modern style.
The terroir of Côtes du Roussillon includes complex soils of schist, limestone, gneiss and granite and climatic conditions that support a broad range of grape varieties. Côtes du Roussillon red wines are blends made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and smaller amounts of Carignan, Cinsault and the lesser known, Lledoner Pelut.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
There are also some International varieties planted in large numbers there, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The region also produces sparkling wines is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limouxis produced in a more modern style.
The terroir of Côtes du Roussillon includes complex soils of schist, limestone, gneiss and granite and climatic conditions that support a broad range of grape varieties. Côtes du Roussillon red wines are blends made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and smaller amounts of Carignan, Cinsault and the lesser known, Lledoner Pelut.
Côtes du Roussillon Rosé wines come from the same varieties, as well as may include Grenache Gris and Macabeo. White wines from Côtes du Roussillon are Grenache Blanc and Macabeo with small amounts of Marsanne, Roussanne and Rolle (aka Vermentino).
This label is a blend of classic Côtes du Roussillon any Rhône Valley varietals Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault.
Further winemaker’s notes - “The various grape varieties are harvested separately when each of them is just at the right ripeness level. The winemaking process is managed to respect the specific characteristics of the grape varieties and the qualities of the soil. The grapes are harvested mechanically with a built in sorting system The grapes are de stemmed, cooled down to 8 C and transferred to the press to extract the rosé wine must. Particular attention is paid to the pressing to ensure that only the first, highest quality juice is kept The juice is then left to settle according to the precise aromatic profile that is being targeted. The fermentation lasts between 15 and over 30 days, depending on the degree of clarification and the temperature. Finally, after a light fining, the wine is bottled quite early to preserve the fresh, fruity character of the wines.”
We served this wine from a large format magnum bottle.
This label is a blend of classic Côtes du Roussillon any Rhône Valley varietals Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault.
Producer’s tasting notes: It is fresh and intense on the nose, revealing aromas of citrus and exotic fruits, flowers and a few notes of candy, pear and pineapple. The fresh, flavorsome palate is lively, precise and pure thanks to the clear mineral backdrop and a certain opulence. Côte des Roses celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle. The Languedoc appellation stretches along the Mediterranean coast from the Spanish border as far as the city of Nîmes, along the foothills of the Montagne Noire and the Cévennes. The bottle is original with its base in the shape of a rose, created by a young designer from the Ecole Boulle. A wine to be given in the same way you would offer a bunch of roses!
Winegrower’s note - Cote des Roses celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle. The Languedoc appellation stretches alongside the Mediterranean coast The soils vary, mainly with hard limestone and schist, but also gravel transported from the rivers of the Languedoc region
Winegrower’s note - Cote des Roses celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle. The Languedoc appellation stretches alongside the Mediterranean coast The soils vary, mainly with hard limestone and schist, but also gravel transported from the rivers of the Languedoc region
The wine is packaged in a unique custom designed bottle with its base in the shape of a rose, created by a young designer from the Ecole Boulle The producer notes - “A wine to be given in the same way you would offer a bunch of roses!”
Further winemaker’s notes - “The various grape varieties are harvested separately when each of them is just at the right ripeness level. The winemaking process is managed to respect the specific characteristics of the grape varieties and the qualities of the soil. The grapes are harvested mechanically with a built in sorting system The grapes are de stemmed, cooled down to 8 C and transferred to the press to extract the rosé wine must. Particular attention is paid to the pressing to ensure that only the first, highest quality juice is kept The juice is then left to settle according to the precise aromatic profile that is being targeted. The fermentation lasts between 15 and over 30 days, depending on the degree of clarification and the temperature. Finally, after a light fining, the wine is bottled quite early to preserve the fresh, fruity character of the wines.”
We served this wine from a large format magnum bottle.
The winemaker’s tasting notes on this wine - the color is “Brilliant pink colored, with bluish tints developing over time towards more orangey nuances.”
“The bouquet releases aromas of summer fruits, cassis and redcurrant Floral notes of rose along with hints of grapefruit complete the picture. On the palate the impression is fresh and full, with great aromatic persistence and balance The finish is fresh, offering notes of candy.”
“The bouquet releases aromas of summer fruits, cassis and redcurrant Floral notes of rose along with hints of grapefruit complete the picture. On the palate the impression is fresh and full, with great aromatic persistence and balance The finish is fresh, offering notes of candy.”
This release was rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast.
Bright Pink colored with an orange hue, medium bodied, full round bright vibrant flavors of cranberry, strawberry and cherry fruits with notes of floral, mineral and rose hips on a wholesome weighty crisp acidic finish.
RM 90 points.
We then opened this bigger darker Red Rose’ from Lavender Crest Winery which we Tasted and acquired at the winery during a recent visit featured in this blogpost.
Lavender Crest Winery NV “Soirée” Marquette Rosé
This is a semi-sweet blush wine made with gently pressed, locally grown Marquette grapes.
Winemaker’s notes - Sweet and tangy notes of strawberry and ripe red fruits create a celebratory dance of flavors. Served chilled as recommended.’
Darker golden burnt orange colored, medium bodied, this was very nice, and in-line with many Rose’ from California or even the Languedoc in Provence.
