2021 Louis Latour Pinot Noir Domaine de Valmoissine, France, Coteaux du Verdon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a great value in Pinot Noir.  Deep garnet/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, and spice.  Clean.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some spice.  Good finish.  This is a surprisingly bigger and riper Pinot (for France) than expected.  That is not to say over done.  Good finish.  Nice on its own, this should work well with many foods.  Salmon would be nice.   It was nice with pasta in a mushroom sauce.  Drink over the  next five to seven years.  

 

2021 Caves d'Esclans Sasha Lichini, Whispering Angel, France, Cotes de Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

One of the best Roses in it price class.  A blend of mostly Grenache, Cinsault and Vermentino grapes.  Pale salmon pink with a touch of orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has strawberries and oranges.  Lovely texture.  Lots of depth.  On the palate, cherries and strawberries with good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own but will work well with most foods.  It would work great with heartier fish dishes.  

2021 Caves d'Esclans Whispering Angel, France, Cotes de Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Excellent Rose from the south of France.  A blend of mostly Grenache, Cinsault and Vermentino grapes.  Pale salmon pink with a touch of orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with strawberries, watermelons and a touch of salinity.  Light bodied with no tannins.  Crisp and delicious.  On the palate, nice strawberry notes turning to watermelon on the lingering finish.  There is a nice depth and complexity not often found in Roses.  This is great on its own and would work well with all but the biggest beef dishes.  Try with roasted chicken.  

2020 Fête des Fleurs Rosé, France, Cotes de Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This an attractively packaged Rose from the South of France (Provence).  It is a blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre, and 2% Rolle (Vermentino).  Pale pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight cranberries, cherries, thyme and slight salinity.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, this is refreshing.  Well balance, this drinks easily.  Cranberries and light cherry fruit.  Clean.  Slight bitter cherry notes on the finish.  This is nice on its own and will work well with salmon or tuna.  Drink over the next few years.  

2020 Caves d'Esclans The Palm by Whispering Angel, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is an inexpensive Rose by the makers of Whispering Angel Rose.  It is nice but definitely a step or two down from its big sister.  12.5%  ABV.  A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault.   Very pale pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some watermelon and a hint of strawberries.  Light bodied.  On the palate, the strawberries are more the driving force.  There isn't much acidity here, so it drinks better on its own or with light foods.  Drink over the next year.  

2019 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This may be the most iconic Rosé made.  It is arguably the best as well.  While the price has risen over the last decade or so, there is no question that it delivers on quality.  Pale salmon/copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with strawberries, minerals and a slight salinity.  Very nice texture.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, strawberries with a mineral base.  This is not a big wine, but its not delicate either.  The finish goes on for a long time.  Some people advocate letting these age and while this will no doubt last for another five to seven years, the freshness in

2019 Domaines Ott Côtes de Provence By.Ott Rosé, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

By.Ott is a third line of wines from Domaines Ott, the venerable producer of wines in southern France.  These are a tad less expensive but still on the pricier side of Provence rosé's.  The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre.  Pale pink in color, shimmering bright and clear.  The nose is very pretty with cherries, strawberries, minerals and slight grapefruit.  Light bodied.  Very refreshing.  Easy drinking.  The cherries and citrus carry thru to the palate.  This should be consumed in the next couple of years to enjoy its freshness.  This drinks well on its own

2019 Château Minuty Côtes de Provence Prestige, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a Rose from southern France.  It is a blend of 60% Grenach, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, and 10% Tibouren.  Perhaps more than most springs, I am looking forward to staying home and sipping on some Rose as the weather gets nice/warmer.  This is light salmon pink/orange in color.  Very pale but bright and clear.  It has a much bigger nose with nice strawberries, some hay and slight watermelon.  On the palate, it has an interesting texture.  A bit oily but also creamy.  The strawberries really come thru on the palate.  Refreshing and tasty.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This drinks great o

2016 Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

A blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 26% Cinsault, and 4% Syrah.  This was part of a tasting that taught me that, more than most Bandol's, Tempier's will need plenty of cellar time to peak.  This was tasty now, but just felt like it was holding back.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is tight.  With air, some black cherries come out.  Eventually a bit of spice as well.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Very deep but tightly wound.  Black cherry fruit.  Plenty of tannins.  Long finish.  If drinking now give it a few hours in a decanter.  Otherwise cellar for ten more years.  This

2010 Domaine de la Tour du Bon Bandol, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

Purple/ruby in color, slightly flat.  The nose seemed a bit off, perhaps storage.  It had a bit of aquarium going on.  Yet, there is also some black cherries and a bit of minerality.  On the palate, this is much better.  A pretty backbone of acidity.  Nice fresh cherry fruit.  Slight tannins.  Some complexity.  Long finish.  This is drinking about where one would expect at age 9.  It won't get better but should be at peak for the next five to seven years.  This will work with most meat or fowl based dishes or roasted veggies too.

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