Tag Archives: Rosé Wine

All Posts, Wine

60 Days of Rosé | #04 | La Vie en Rosé | Pays d’Oc | Cinsault Rosé | 2017

60 Days of Rosé | #04 | La Vie en Rosé | Pays d’Oc | Cinsault Rosé | 2017 | $9.99 (normally $12!)

Rolling in at number 4 during our 60 Days of Rosé is La Vie en Rosé – a wine we like so much, that every year, we snag stacks of it!

La Vie en Rosé fires on many cylinders:

  • Delicious, approachable, and crowd friendly
  • Drink by itself or with a BLT, fried chicken, Waldorf-style salads, fresh cheese, quinoa salad, Ratatouille, berry cobbler or pie… La Vie en Rosé is quite versatile
  • Easy to get into – unscrew the cap and enjoy!
  • Flowery, romantic label – we sell a lot for weddings
  • On sale for $9.99 (normally $11.99)

Enjoy this delightful rosé  today!

 

Read about Pays d’Oc:

content from www.paysdoc-wines.com

Cinsault: a delicacy

This grape variety is the ultimate Pays d’Oc rosé wines par excellence! It produces fresh wines with a pronounced taste of strawberry and rose petal, becoming slightly tile-red when assembled with Grenache where the rosé takes on its roundness.

Pays d’Oc grape varieties

Pays d’Oc wines are fruity and new, elegant and modern or refined and contemporary. They are perfect for every occasion, fulfil every desire and are ideal for every table. They have a well-defined French character, bathed in sunshine and the Mediterranean, which makes them easily recognisable.
Excellent value for money, Pays d’Oc wines are resolutely appealing.

Pays d’Oc: IGP – Protected Geographical Indication – a quality label

Pays d’Oc IGP is attributed to a wine that is exclusively produced in the Languedoc-Roussillon and has been accepted for approval by the Pays d’Oc Wine Producers Union. The label is awarded to wines that meet strict production quality criteria. The wine must also display typical Pays d’Oc characteristics. 92% of all Pays d’Oc IGP wines are varietal wines.

Between Land and Sea

The Pays d’Oc territory winds along the Mediterranean Sea, weaving itself along 4 departments in the Languedoc-Roussillon : Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault and the Gard. The Pays d’Oc boasts 200 km of beaches and vast expanses of vineyards bathed by the sun.  A rich and natural combination of steep slopes, hilly peaks, vineyards, garrigue vegetation and the sea, the Pays d’Oc territory is embraced by its Mediterranean climate that comfortably enfolds the vines with its dry and windswept soils.

Having always embraced the vine, Pays d’Oc has adapted its vineyard and adopted grape varieties from different regions in France.  These grapes have embraced the Pays d’Oc and taken on the region’s charm.

The terroir effect

The terroir effect is noticeable upon tasting wines from the different Pays d’oc zones.  The Languedoc-Roussillon’s wealth of diverse soils and climates are exemplified by its *** terroirs. As grapes embrace the land from which they are grown, the grape varieties express themselves differently depending on the climate, exposure, relief, and soils. Pays d’Oc’s patchwork of wine-growing areas creates an expression of these grape varieties that is unique.

Pays d’Oc men and women

In the Pays d’Oc, mankind and vineyards tell one of the most beautiful stories of life and passion. Throughout the centuries and eras, passion for wine has always stayed alive.  Despite all the ups and downs of history, it remains, more than ever, connected to its territory. Over the past 30 years, the men and women from Pays d’Oc have understood the importance of adapting regional viticulture to economic and regulatory changes. Their heartfelt commitment to the regional viticulture tradition has created a strong motivation towards optimising the use of the vineyards. Using a savoir-faire passed down through the centuries, they create high-quality wines that reflect Pays d’Oc’s typicity.

As a result, Pays d’Oc wines embody wine growers’ passion and commitment and reflect the producers’ ability to combine tradition and modernity.

 

All Posts, Wine

60 Days of Rosé | #03 Swick Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir | $19.99

Swick Wines Rose of Pinot Noir 2017

60 Days of Rosé | #03 | Swick Wines | Willamette Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir | $19.99

Today, ladies and gentlemen, we would like to introduce you to an intriguing rosé that will expand your palette and your mind, revealing layers that you may not have realized a rosé could have! Swick Wines’ Rosé of Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley is as natural as a wine can be, made with grapes that are gently hand-harvested and direct pressed into concrete eggs. It sings with zingy black cherry and raspberry, but finishes extra dry and sharp, with fresh clean acidity. Crack a bottle with a friend and a wedge of salty cheese, and ponder deep thoughts!

Joe Swick, owner and winemaker

In addition to snagging Joe’s rosé each year from our friends at Vermont Wine Merchants as soon as it comes in, we carry Swick Wines Malbec in our natural wine section year-round! A deep and brooding Washington Malbec, this wine displays a subtle nose, with elegant dark fruit emerging from its gentlemanly reserve.

Joe Swick is a 5th generation Oregonian, born and raised in Portland. He got into the wine business working as a shipping/receiving clerk working at a specialty organic food store in Portland, where he was able to taste a lot of different wines and meet a lot of Oregonian winemakers. He worked his first harvest in 2003 in Oregon, and from then until 2012 he worked 15 different harvests, traveling all over the world as far as Tasmania, France, Portugal, and Italy. Joe returned to Oregon in 2013 to start Swick Wines in the Willamette Valley. He works only with sustainable or organically farmed vineyards that are not irrigated, from cooler climate locations. Many of the wines have zero sulfur added.

Joe’s wines tend to showcase the “fruit” aspect in a very subtle way, instead being more focused on minerality, salinity and freshness. Tannins are direct and firm without being harsh. Since Joe works with cold sites, alcohols are lower and acids are quite a bit higher than most wines from Oregon/Washington. Read more about Joe Swick’s dedication to natural winemaking in Willamette Week and Edible Portland.

ABOUT THE 2017 SWICK ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR:

Total Production: 1,800 bottles

Appellation: Willamette Valley

Age of Vines: 20 years

Soil: Alluvial and Basalt

Yield: 2 tons per acre

Vinification Method: Grapes are hand harvested and destemmed. The grapes are direct pressed into concrete eggs where the wine ferments for about 8 months. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with a small addition of sulfur.

All Posts, Wine

60 Days of Rosé #02 | Simple Life Rosé | $9.99

60 Days of Rosé #02 | Simple Life Rosé | $9.99 (compare at $12.99!)

Refreshing & vibrant, Simple Life rosé is a crowd friendly, easy drinking rosé for only $9.99 – enjoy the ‘Simple Life’ today!

From simplelifewinery.com:

SIMPLE LIFE WINE –
Growing up in a small town in California means being able to enjoy the Simple Life. We walk downtown and shop at family-owned grocery stores, we cook with fresh vegetables and meat from local farms, and we drink wine made by our family and friends who have lived here for generations

ROSÉ –
A new addition to the Simple Life lineup, the Rosé has vibrant aromas of fresh florals, red fruits and zesty citrus. The palate holds refreshing flavors of juicy strawberry, watermelon, cranberry and hibiscus.

The Simple Life Rosé is distinct and intentionally made in an understated style. Skin contact was minimized to promote fruit forward aromas, bright flavors, and a stunning pale, rose gold color. Minimizing grape skin contact also helps build a wine with soft tannins that lets the acidity and minerality shine through.

FOOD PAIRING –
Although our rosé is delightful to sip on its own, we suggest pairing with a fresh caprese salad, smoked gouda & mushroom quesadillas or grilled salmon with pesto sauce.

WINEMAKING –
As grapes were received at the winery they were immediately pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at cold temperatures. No oak was used during fermentation and the resulting wine did not go through malolactic fermentation. This wine is meant to show-case fruit from the premier California vineyards individually selected for this rosé wine.

TASTING NOTES –
This elegant and dry wine is a glimmering rose gold color in the glass. Bright aromas and flavors of wild strawberry, rose petal, pear blossom and jasmine floral notes are inviting. The wine is fresh and delicate with a juicy fruit palate and balanced acidity. This Simple Life rosé will pair well with a wide array of foods or is delightful to sip on its own.

PHILOSOPHY –
We treasure this small town, California life and its simple pleasures – like walking down-town and shopping at family-owned grocery stores, cooking with fresh ingredients from local farms, and drinking wine made by our family and friends who have been here for generations. We created these wines for the people that enjoy the simple things in life; friends, family and a glass of wine.

 

All Posts, Wine

30 Days of Rosé | #15 | The Withers | Rosé of Grenache & Mourvèdre | Mendocino County | 2016

30 Days of Rosé | #15 | The Withers | Rosé of Grenache & Mourvèdre | 13.2% ABV | Mendocino County | 2016 | $20.99

Last year, we met Andrew Tow.  He delighted us with his Cool climate wines from the Sonoma Coast and Sierra Foothills.  We flipped the switch on going in big and haven’t looked back.  The Withers Rosé of Grenache & Mourvèdre was one of the shooting stars last year – it streaked across our wine selection for a brief time, oohed and aahed customers, then was gone as quickly as it arrived.  Rein in your bottle of the 2016 vintage while you can catch one, and let your palate ride other Withers wine in our domestic red blend and Pinot Noir sections.

From thewitherswinery.com:

Winemaker Tasting Notes

Our 2016 Rosé is a dead ringer for a classic Bandol, highlighted by the color, flavors and aromas of apricot, cherry, watermelon rind nectarine and peach. The wine is buttressed by strong balancing acidity, with excellent tension and lift over its medium bodied, layered and textured frame. Balanced and elegant, it is best served at cellar temperature and can be paired with oysters, shellfish, seafood, pasta and fowl. It will be enjoyable immediately on release but should improve in bottle for 3-5 years.

  • 145 cases made
  • 61% Mourvèdre
  • 39% Grenache
  • 13.2% Alcohol

A True Story

It started off simply enough. Our original goal was to make a few barrels of wine that we would be proud to drink and serve to friends and family. Once we did so, it immediately became more complicated because the response was overwhelmingly positive. So here we are today, having created a wine label that reflects the types of wines we originally set out to make for ourselves, but now make for you. This project has enabled us to pursue many things we love at the same time – making great wines at reasonable prices, conducting ourselves with and collaborating with others who share our goal of social and environmental responsibility, engaging in philanthropy, and equestrian pursuits. We try to pursue all of these avenues surrounded by friends and loved ones and wine is inevitably involved. Key to our mission is supporting local growers and communities and the environment through sharing a percentage of our revenues with causes near and dear to our hearts.

Our aim is to produce elegant, nuanced, balanced, food friendly expressions of cool climate vineyard sites that don’t sacrifice flavor, complexity or intensity. For those wondering about our winery name, the withers is in many species the tallest point of the body. For horses, it is the place from which height is measured. We named our winery in the spirit of striving for heights in every aspect of our operation, and as a tribute to Mr.Burgess, the Irish Connemara pony who has been a member of our extended family for almost 15 years. The artwork on our label is an original illustration of Mr. Burgess drawn by a special young woman who has known our family and the horse since her childhood. He is a sensitive and beautiful animal willing to experiment with the many equestrian disciplines, having over time proven to be reliable and expert at every one.

We aim for the same concept in making wine; be unafraid of exploration and pursue heights of excellence across many disciplines, whether red, white or rosé and irrespective of varietal. What we seek in wine, friendships, music, and everything for which we have a passion is something to reach for, something that draws you in because it is not so obvious on its face, yet which intrigues you. Something that with patience yields an end result that builds from the first impression. Something familiar and evocative, yet which leaves you searching for descriptive words. Something soulful. In other words, we seek to produce qualities in our wines that we look for in every corner of our lives. So we embark on the journey, determined, enthusiastic and hopeful.

This project has been 35 years in the making. Years filled with collecting, sampling, enjoying, learning, and sharing. What we are doing today wouldn’t be possible without help from close friends; extremely talented people about whom we care and who have shared their knowledge, expertise and time. We consider ourselves very lucky to know such wonderful people, and to have them working with us going forward. Combining a personal passion for wine with the hard work involved in making it for others to enjoy requires a healthy respect for the challenges to being successful and for the process itself. We have that respect, and believe that the most important element will always be working with vineyards which produce the high quality fruit from which every fine wine must come, then letting it speak for itself without attempting to alter its true character. I hope you will take an interest in what we are doing, share your true stories with us, and most of all, enjoy our wines with friends, colleagues, and loved ones!

Cheers,

– Andrew Tow | Founder

Where We Grow

Our Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre growers tend sites in the increasingly well known Sierra Foothills region as well as Mendocino County. Our Sierra Foothills growers tend vineyards in higher elevation, cool climate locations that enable the grapes to ripen evenly and beautifully while experiencing cool mornings and evenings, which serve to moderate sugar, and therefore alcohol levels in our wines without sacrificing flavor. The resulting wines are food friendly, balanced and nuanced, with distinct and penetrating varietal flavors.

Who We Are

Andrew Tow | Founder

Mr. Tow has a long background in the media and telecommunications industries, and a longer love for everything about wine. He has a passion for his wife and three children, live music, and the outdoors, as well as understated wines of balance and flavor. While this is his first venture as a winery owner, he has formed many relationships in the industry over 35 years of travel, shared experiences, and common values.
Kathleen Tow | General Manager 

Mrs. Tow, Mr. Tow’s wife of 26 years, is responsible for customer and distributor relations as well as the mailing list and wine clubs.  She is an accomplished equestrian focusing on dressage riding and working daily with Mr. Burgess, the gray horse whose image appears on our wine label. Mrs. Tow is involved in all aspects of the winery and its operations.
David Low | Winemaker

Mr. Low is an accomplished and acclaimed winemaker, having served in various capacities at William Selyem Winery, as Assistant Winemaker at Papapietro Perry Winery, and as Co-Founder and Winemaker at the award winning Anthill Farms Winery. He has had a hand in crafting many distinctive and highly rated cool climate Pinot Noirs and Rhone Varietals, as well as Whites and Rosés.
Tyson Freeman

Mr. Freeman is an experienced winemaker and cellar manager, having worked at Papapietro Perry Winery in various capacities. Mr. Freeman is responsible for sourcing grapes, vineyard and cellar management and assisting Mr. Low in various capacities throughout the cycle of making, cellaring, and bottling our wine.

 

All Posts, Wine

30 Days of Rosé | #12 | Effusion | Moussé Fils | Champagne Rosé | 2016

30 Days of Rosé | #12 | Effusion | Moussé Fils | Champagne Rosé | 2016 | $47.99

We sift through well over 1,000 wines a year to pluck the best to share with you – it’s hard work!

We have an extensive selection of sparkling Rosé and were not looking at all to add another one, especially if it would retail at over $500 a case.

Moussé Fils whipped our heads around, sent us into a tizzy, and we HAD to have it.

We mulled over dozens  of reasons to not buy it, head, heart, and palate battled – our visceral senses won over our brains because Moussé Fils was too delicious to not bring in.

With only a couple exceptions, we’d rather drink this any other sparking wine we’ve ever had under $150 which is saying a lot considering everything we’ve had over the years.

Skip the big commercial brands, and grab a bottle of Moussé Fils for brunch, special celebration or casual occasion.. or hint hint nudge nudge… the next time you want delight your partner (or treat yourself – we know you deserve it!).

At $47.99, Moussé Fils punches twice above it’s weight class for flavor and pleasure.  To say the least, this one is a stunner.

It’s hard not to be too enthusiastic about this wine. We’ll stop talking and let you explore it.

In case you didn’t notice, we plainly hardcore ♥ Effusion Moussé Fils Champagne Rosé.

 

Moussé Fils | champagnemoussefils.com

You’ll find Champagne Moussé Fils in the heart of the Marne River valley in the village of Cuisles where, since 1923, perfecting the art of growing Meunier and bringing it to the peak of its potential has been the guiding principle of everything we do.

Our vineyards are spread out across 4 different villages yet all of them are on the same hillside; an unusual characteristic that is reflected in all of our champagnes.

Our family has been making champagne for 4 generations now and we’ve been growing vines from as long ago as 1750 so you can understand why we attach so much importance to looking after the environment. We want to ensure that our champagnes reflect all the character and personality of our vineyards and to achieve that we pay the most scrupulous attention to each stage of the wine making to ensure that everything is done as naturally as possible.

Our Principles

  • Use of the natural light
  • No chemical weeding
  • We use plants to protect other plants
  • Horse ploughing
  • Wood diseases treatment with perfusions of essential oils
  • We use the latest light-weight bottles to reduce CO2 emissions
  • Much of our water comes from natural springs
  • When old vines are dug up they are used for household heating
  • The cellars are temperature controlled using a soil-air heat exchanger
  • Protecting the vines and taking care of the environment
  • Each building produces its own hot water from solar panels
  • Chilling of the wine in a natural way
  • Planting seeds following the moon’s cycle
  • Tractor’s decontamination in a specialized washing station
  • Growing grass in the vines in Autumn to improve soil quality
  • Mirror-finished tank to save water
  • Self-sufficient in electricity
  • Eco-conceived storehouse

« We do not inherit the earth from our parents,
we borrow it from our children ». – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

 

Moussé Fils | Champagne Rosé | 2016

  • Cépage:  92% Meunier 8% Pinot Noir
  • Assemblage:  Blend of solera 2003-2014 and 12% red Wine from Meunier
  • Info/Source:  Sourced from vineyards in Cuisles, Jonquery, Châtillon-sur-Marne and Olizy.
  • Vines:  25 years old on average.
  • Malo:  Yes
  • Elevage:  Oak and stainless steel tank
  • Sur Lees:  16 months
  • Region:  Champagne
  • Appellation:  Vallee de la Marne
  • Color:  Rosé
  • Farming Practice:  Practicing Organic

What are the origins of Meunier?

It’s a more rustic variation of its genetic parent Pinot Noir and was called Meunier, without the word Pinot, so as to avoid confusion between the two.

Where does the name Meunier come from?

According to reference books about grape vines it seems that the name comes from the characteristic, soft, white coating on the leaves that makes them look as though they’ve been covered in flour, hence the name Meunier which means Miller in English.

These days Meunier has a good reputation, but that hasn’t always been the case. Why is that?

Meunier was often disparaged when used on its own and for years it was shunned by the big champagne houses. It was only Henri Krug who sang its praises. In the 1970s there was even a premium paid for what were called ‘Noble Grapes’ but it applied only to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Fortunately, for the past few years, Meunier has been regaining its reputation and today it’s considered to be the perfect varietal for blending. You only have to look at the great Meunier champagnes of René Collard to see the truth of this.

Why is Meunier the preferred varietal at Champagne Moussé Fils ?

Our family has been growing Meunier for 12 generations and every generation has believed in its vast potential. I wanted to give Meunier the respect it deserves and to show lovers of fine champagne that Meunier can produce wines of the utmost finesse. Our motto “Deeply Meunier” is the perfect illustration of that ambition and the perfect reflection of our wines: fine, elegant, and fruity.

– Cédric Moussé

 

All Posts, Wine

30 Days of Rosé | #11 | Emmanuel & Thierry Delaille | Cheverny Rosé | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire | 2016

30 Days of Rosé | #11 | Emmanuel & Thierry Delaille | Cheverny Rosé | Vin de Pays du Val de Loire | 2016 | $14.99

Ah wine from Cheverny… white, red, or rosé, is a rising star in our French wine section.  We’re mesmerized not just by the superb balance and sensory experience of these wines, but also because we’ve personally met with the makers who carefully harvest the grapes, make the wine, and ship it over to us in this small community.  We are most delighted to not just support our friends who responsibly craft these craveable wines, but to share their labor of liquid love with you. 

From kermitlynch.com/our-wines/domaine-du-salvard:

Domaine du Salvard

Domaine du Salvard has been a working domaine since 1898, through five hardworking generations of the Delaille family. Today, all forty-two hectares of vineyards are farmed by the capable brother team of Emmanuel and Thierry Delaille, with help from their father Gilbert. To our delight, they have carried on the traditions established by their ancestors, producing a true, classic Cheverny that is both simple and elegant. The Delaille brothers have focused their attention on growing fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc, deeply rooted in the sand, clay, and limestone plains of northeastern Touraine. Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cot constitute their red grape holdings, creating youthful reds with great aromatics. Gilbert and his sons have also made their own contributions to the heritage of the domaine, including the introduction of sustainable farming practices into the vineyards, as well as temperature-controlled vinification equipment to the winery.

Until finally achieving A.O.C. status in 1993, Cheverny was widely regarded as one of the best V.D.Q.S. (Vin de Qualité Superieur) of the Loire. However, some argue that this A.O.C.-in-waiting designation was a political maneuver by the I.N.A.O. to keep Cheverny’s delicious, sprightly Sauvignon Blanc out of competition with the other more famous appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Kermit was the first to discover the charm and value of Cheverny back in 1978 when he imported the Domaine Jean Gueritte. He took on the Cheverny of Domaine du Salvard in 1992, a year before the status change in the appellation. We continue to tout the domaine’s wine as one of the greatest values for Sauvignon Blanc perfection.

VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION

  • All wines are vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel cuves
  • All wines age on fine lees in stainless steel tanks and are bottled unfiltered
  • Rosé is 50% free-run juice, 50% pressed
  • 65% Pinot Noir / 35% Gamay

The proliferation of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides in the 1950s has made France the single largest consumer of phyto-chemicals in Europe today. The subsequent degradation of the soil has ensued, killing off the necessary microbiotic life forms that support healthy soils. Lutte raisonnée, literally “reasoned fight” (in French), or “supervised control” (in English), is a reaction to the use of such chemicals, regarded as a pragmatic approach to farming, where chemical treatments are used only when absolutely necessary. Biodiversity in the vineyards is encouraged through the planting of cover crops, rigorous plowing of the soils, and the use of manures and natural composts to fertilize the vines. Some growers use this as a first step towards full organic farming. Others find it a happy medium between conventional methods and the stricter demands dictated by organic certifying agencies. There is a wide berth of interpretation concerning these methods. Some farmers work through certifying agencies such as Terra Vitis, following a specific set of specifications and requirements. Others farm independently, following organic methodologies, and reserving treatments only when conditions are optimal (for example, when there is no wind). Zoologists have introduced more environmentally-friendly concepts such as integrated pest management, or hormone confusion, which prevents the reproduction of certain pests that may threaten the vines. The reduction of sprays not only contributes to the health of the vines and the greater ecosystem, but also to the health of the winegrowers (who account for the largest percentage of cancer cases among farmers).

If you revel in Chinon Rosé like us, we encourage you to explore Chinon, the first installment in our 30 Days of Rosé!

30 Days of Rosé | #01 | Kermit Lynch | Chinon Rosé | Charles Joguet