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Stop & Smell The Rosés
- Jul 2, 2020
By Gregory Aubrey
Without a doubt the drink of summer, rosé wine is more than just a pretty color swirling in a glass. From fruit-forward aromas bursting with strawberries, melon, and peach to the crisp, floral, more dry rosé showing light peppery, cucumber, and lime zest notes, there’s a rosé for every palate and personality.
While you won’t be traveling to the South of France, Italy, or Israel this summer, pour yourself a glass from one of our great tasting rosés, close your eyes and enjoy every sip while dreaming of the sun-soaked sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.
Let’s get into the rosé groove and discover some great options to consider for this summer (and beyond).
The Perfect Food Companions
There’s no better way to start a summer meal than with a refreshing glass (or two) of rosé. It pairs well with aperitifs, light summer appetizers, and grilled fish or roasted vegetables. It’s also perfect to enjoy for your Shabbos meal when the weather gets a little warm. See below for the bottles we recommend serving - and drinking - with food.
Château Greysac Rosé 2019, France
This rosé is crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes, resulting in one beautiful wine that exudes a variety of pleasant and elegant characteristics. Perfectly balanced and aromatic, this is a true representation of the vibrant style of Bordeaux Rosé, bursting with notes of cherry, raspberry, citrus, and minerals on the nose. On the palate, look for notes of grapefruit and red berries. This is a great wine to pair with grilled fish or better yet a summer barbecue.
Herzog Les Lauriers des Rothschild Rosé 2019, France
This 100% Cabernet Franc Rosé is truly spectacular both in taste and in price. The nose shows aromas of pink grapefruit, strawberry, mineral notes, and a refreshing floral bouquet. Passion fruit, strawberry, and citrus flavors on the palate ending with a lasting, mineral finish. This wine is what you’d call a QPR King (quality-to-price ratio).
Following in the footsteps of the aforementioned rosés, this blend of Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc showcases pleasant aromas of grapefruit, berries, florals, and delicate cotton candy notes. Well-balanced with medium, gracious acidity and a more fruit-forward palate with flavors of strawberry and tart. Although short, the finish is clean and refreshing.
Red C Rosé 2019, Covenant, California
A refreshing and crisp blend of Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, the Red C Rosé boasts pleasant floral aromas with delicate notes of red berries and citrus. On the palate, a beautiful balance of dryness, acidity, and fruit-forward notes of strawberry and spice flavors followed by an enjoyable and lingering finish. It’s great for pairing with food or to enjoy on its own.
From Judean Hills with love, the Flam Rosé 2019 is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This crisp and gastronomical wine is full of fruity aromas with hints of strawberry and citrus on the tongue, pleasant acidity, and impressive minerality. The Flam Rosé is a well-rounded and balanced wine that makes it a great choice to pair with your food this summer.
Domaine du Castel Rosé 2019, Castel, Israel
Continuing with the powerful terroir of the Judean Hills comes the Domaine du Castel Rosé 2019, an elegant blend of Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. With its beautiful pale salmon shade and aromas that are bursting with tropical fruit, peach, mineral, and roses (the flower), the palate exhibits delicious flavors of lychee, lime, strawberry, grapefruit, and peach, with good acidity and a long, refreshing floral finish. Did you know? Castel was one of the first Israeli wineries to make rosé wine in Israel.
Costa Toscana Rosato 2019, Cantina Giuliano, Italy
If we could crown one winner for the 2019 vintage, this would be it. Bravo to Eli Gauthier, owner and chief winemaker of Cantina Giuliano for crafting such an excellent, crisp and ever so lively rosé (that also happens to be priced at a great price point). Produced of 100% Sangiovese grapes, the Costa Toscana exhibits delightful and aromatic notes of strawberry, white peach, and green apple, complemented beautifully by the wine’s quenching acidity. The medium-bodied, strawberry-focused palate features a tad of spice notes and a slight and enjoyable bitterness on the long and lingering funky finish, making this usually more fruit-forward wine taste pleasantly dry. This is not only a crowd-pleaser for your next meal, but it can be savored by itself watching the sunset or relaxing by the pool. Saluti!
By The Pool Or At The Beach
Who said water was the best way to hydrate? We’ve highlighted some rosés we think you’ll love drinking by the pool or at the beach. Easy drinking crowd-pleasers that satisfy the craving for something refreshing and the occasional need for a little sweetness. Thirst quencher approved!
Château Roubine Premium Rosé 2019, France
Côtes de Provence is without a doubt the most sought after region in France for quality, premium rosé. Chateau Roubine Premium lives up to the hype with its crisp and refreshing rosé, loaded with sophisticated green and strawberry notes and subtle, floral aromas on the nose. The more fruit-forward characteristics of grapefruit, raspberry, and melon on the palate provide a great balance to the mineral and citrus notes. Look for a grapefruit-focused, lingering finish. We recommend drinking a glass of this rosé after swimming a few laps. That’s what you call hydrating in style!
Estate Rosé 2019, Dalton, Israel
Great tasting wine doesn’t need to come with a hefty price tag - and this rosé from Dalton proves it. The wine is incredibly aromatic with bouquets of bright strawberry, red grapefruit, and rose petals. The semi-dry aspect of the wine combined with its bright acidity enhances the length of the wine’s fruit-driven palate.
Mt. Tabor Rosé 2019, Tabor, Israel
The Mt. Tabor Rosé is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Crisp and semi-sweet, you’ll discover a wonderful world of fresh berries and melon on the nose and palate. The wine is well balanced with medium acidity, and while short, a finish that is quite enjoyable.
Herenza Rosé 2019, Elvi Wines, Spain
The blend of half Grenache and half Syrah made from Elvi is a beautiful representation of the Spanish terroir. The high acidity and fruit-forward, succulent strawberry flavors from the Grenache intertwine in perfect harmony with the earthy, funky aromas of the Syrah. An elegant rosé from Spain to be enjoyed on your balcony overlooking the sunset, or by the pool with your favorite book in one hand and a glass of Herenza Rosé in the other. Salud!
Pet Nat Rosé 2019, Jezreel Valley, Israel
If you’re looking for something different and fun this summer, give this one a try. Pet Nat - otherwise known as Petillant Naturel, is crafted from red and white grapes alike, with most of the fermentation that is actually made in the bottle that creates the fizziness in the wine. What was once referred to as “poor man’s” champagne is now a fun alternative to the usual bubbly. Its low alcohol content (11%) combined with the refreshing and wonderful fruit-forward aromas make this sparkling rosé made of 100% Carignan a great drink to enjoy and sip on all summer long.
Mountain Vista Rosé 2019, Tura, Israel
If you like rosés to be more on the fruit-forward side and less dry, this one’s for you. The Mountain Vista Rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that is loaded with intense and aromatic notes of strawberries, honeydew, peach, and hints of jasmine. With medium acidity and a very light finish, this is what you’d call quaffable wine. No crazy gimmicks, just an easy-drinking, fruit-forward rosé to enjoy by itself.
Meshi Rosato 2019, Terra di Seta, Italy
The Meshi Rosato 2019 from Terra di Seta in Tuscany is crafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Pleasant, aromatic and intense flavors of red berry fruits, well balanced with good freshness and mineral taste. This rosé is definitely geared toward the wine drinker who likes things on the sweeter, more fruit-forward side. It’s also a great alternative to water during the hotter days, hydrating the Italian way - with wine!
Rosé Reserve, Twin Suns 2019, California
Last but not least, the fruit-forward Twin Suns Rosé Reserve is crafted from the Graciano grape. The nose exudes a pleasant and refreshing bouquet of fresh flowers, with sweet strawberries, pear, and citrus flavors on the palate. The finish is smooth and crisp, making this wine the perfect go-to drink after a swim in the ocean or simply laying out by the pool. It’s a great kiddush option for a warm Shabbos day as well!
Rosé is preferably meant to be drunk young. While very few can age for a year or two, the relatively low cost of rosé wines allows you to have fun and experiment with different wineries and vintages. Interested in trying some great rosé wines? Try our Dozen Rosés Mixed Case, featuring a few of the wines mentioned in the article and other solid options worth trying. Enjoy this curated mixed case of 12 rosé wines for $214.99 (Retail Value of $253.88)
L'Chaim!
