Provence

• Bandol

Impressive Rosé from Provence.  It is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Tibouren.  Medium Salmon Pink with some orange swirls in color, clear and bright.  The nose is powerful with cherries, strawberries, pomegranate, and slight thyme notes.  It has a very nice texture.  Plush but firm with a slightly viscous feel.  On the palate, the wine is dry.  Flavors of cherries, strawberries, and slight blood orange.  There is also a minerality to this wine that is very nice.  Good finish.  This is a wine that flaunts its serious side.  It is nice on its own but also will work well

This is a very nice Rosé from Provence in the south of France.  It puts me in the mood for late spring and summer!  It is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Rolle, and Cinsault.

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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

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

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