Category: Wine of The Day

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2019 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cotes de Provence Rose

The more 2019 rose wines that get opened, the more and more exciting the vintage has been. And while it’s almost the time of the year to be thinking more about those serious reds and whites,  there’s just too many great pink wines still to be enjoyed, including the 2019 Clos Ste. Magdeleine 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose.

Much like the second rose of Bandol’s Chateau Pradeaux, St. Magdeleine is best known for their Cassis wines, both pink and white, so when there was a discovery moment of this new wine that is one third lower in price but an amazing challenger to their flagship Cassis rose. Made from vines that are on average 30 years old, the blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah is about as serious of a pink wine as you can enjoy.

The wine isn’t big or heady, but light and flavorful, and easily can be a daily drinker.

Dominated by fresh strawberry aromas, a hint of just picked raspberries and a lovely blackberry taste in the finish, and dry, but not coarse is why the 2019 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cotes des Provence is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day.

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2019 Château de Trinquevedel

There are few wines that have had such a successful and long run when it comes to rose as Chateau de Trinquevedel. The Tavel legend has been a staple since about 2003 and with only a few years since then has it not hit the high mark.

Imported to the USA by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, the blend for Kermit is a bit different than the French release, as it’s made from 60% Grenache, 13% Clairette, 13% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 3% Mourvèdre, 1% Bourboulenc,  giving it a bit more Grenache and less Syrah.

Regardless of blend, the 2019 Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel brings freshness, crispness and dryness to every sip. Flavors of fresh strawberry, raspberry and blueberry come through, with hints of black pepper and lemon.

That’s why the 2019 Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day.

 

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2019 Kaena Santa Ynez Valley Rose

Rose wines made in Santa Barbara County vary from being as light as those from the Cotes de Provence to as dark as those from Bandol. Along the way, Kaena winemaker Mikael Sigouin decided to make wines more like the great dry pink wines from Tavel.

The 2019 Kaena Santa Ynez Valley Rose is another great hit for the Hawaiian born winemaker, as it comes off bone dry, crisp, fruit rich and delightfully refreshing. Loaded up with raspberry and strawberry flavors, and lovely mouthfeel, the latest Rose has all the marks of what a fine Tavel offers, but at far lower prices.

That’s why, the 2019 Kaena Santa Ynez Valley Rose is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day. 

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2019 Habit Grenache Rose

Not as well known outside the Santa Barbara area, but certainly known by discerning wine lovers are the wines made by Jeff Fischer, under the Habit Wine Company label. Fischer, who is better known for his eponymous role on “American Dad” makes small batches of wines in the Santa Ynez region that never disappoint. And his 2019 Habit Grenache Rose is, once again, in that category. Made from fruit from two vineyards, Demetria and Vogelzang and aged four months in steel, the Habit Rose is a joy to drink.

The strawberry nose and flavors are obvious from first whiff and first taste. Blessed with elegant balance and length, the pink wine is juicy and full flavored, but dry enough to be enjoyed all by itself. Hints of grapefruit and tropical notes dot the wine as it opens, making it one more of the stunning 2019 rose wines.

That’s why, the 2019 Habit Grenache Rose is today’s Winesiders Wine of the Day.

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2019 Domaine de Marquiliani Rose de Pauline

If there is a lighter colored rose than the Domaine de Marquiliani Rose de Pauline on the planet,  it has yet to be found. This almost translucent pink wine is pure dynamite in a bottle. Made from a combination of Sciaccarellu, Syrah and Vermentino and grown on a combination of schist and gravel, the almost white colored rose has since its USA debut been one of the most consistent wines around.

Light in color, big in body, fresh in flavor, the more pale colored pink wine of the two made by this small producer never disappoints. It has depth, with blackberry and blueberry notes, surrounded by an almost saline like quality captured from the vineyard’s proximity to the sea.  Perfume like in aromas, but feather light on the palate, the Rose de Pauline is a can’t miss hit when it comes to Rose.

That’s why the 2019 Domaine de Marquiliani Rose de Pauline is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day

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2019 Chateau de Roquefort Corail Rose

Tim Johnston, proprietor of Juveniles, and one of the Parisian WineScene’s most colorful personalities has long been a fan of Chateau de Roquefort and their exceptionally well made wines. While the whites and reds are less seen in the USA market, the Corail Rose is one of the top pink wines to hit these shores every year.

A blend that varies in percentages every year, but not the seven different grapes that goes into it, the 2019 has a really soft and fruit balance from the Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Clairette and Vermentino. It has that wonderful aromatic nose that is Provence, while the body is crisp and rich in fresh strawberries, red raspberries, and blueberry flavors. The color is deeper than most Cotes de Provence Roses and as a result the flavor profiles shifts from fun wine from Provence to a serious wine for wine lovers the world over.

That’s why the 2019 Chateau de Roquefort Corail Rose is today’s Winesiders Wine of the Day.

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2019 Chateau Vannieres Bandol Rose

2020 has to be the oddest year for wine availability in many years across the USA. Between tariffs, Covid-19, and restaurants being forced to be delivery only for a long time have all made getting access to wines we love more interesting. But one constant has been the access to stunning 2019 rose wines. Without question, 2019 is going down as perhaps the best Rose year of the decade.

Take the 2019 Chateau Vannieres Bandol Rose that has once again proven to be an out performer, and is perhaps the best dry, light pink rose to come out of Bandol this year. 

Made from Mourvedre and Grenache, there’s a certain red fruit quality to the pink wine that makes it so seductive. It exudes blackberry and raspberry fruit, while dancing across your tongue. So just when I thought another 2019 Rose wine was my favorite, once again the Vannieres comes through like a champ.

That’s why the 2019 Chateau Vannieres Bandol Rose is today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.


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2017 Ochota Barrels Fugazy Vineyard McLaren Vale Grenache

When one thinks of Grenache one’s mind usually wanders to the Rhone Valley, Santa Barbara or even Spain. But one of the finest regions for Greanche is in Australia’s McLaren Vale. And, today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day is the delightful red from Ochota Barrels, the Fugazy Vineyard Grenache.

Here’s a light bodied red that’s power-packed with flavor and spice. Hints of Languedoc garrigue flavors dot the wine, but it’s the layer upon layer of fruit-strawberry, black cherry and black raspberry that come to mind, with hints of white pepper. Fans of Chateauneuf du Papes that move in the direction of Burgundian flavors will find the Ochota Barrels Grenache to their liking. And that’s why it’s today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.

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2018 Chateau Maravenne Cotes de Provence Rose

Since about 2013 the Rose wines from all over France have just been sensational year after year. While lots of attention goes to the big name or “popular” brands  of wines found on shelves of retailers the world over, it’s the smaller, boutique producers, who have turned out incredible pink wines year after year.

One great example is the 2018 Chateau Maravenne Cotes de Provence Rose, which is all strawberry, rose petal, minerals and wet stones. It’s a lively, refreshing wine and one that has the stuffing to stand up to spicy salami or pungent cheese. 

That’s why the 2018 Chateau Maravenne Cotes du Provence is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day!!! 

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2017 Esporao Branca Reserva

The wines of Esporao have intrigued me from first sip back in the 00’s after my first trip to Lisbon back in 2006. Since then I’ve never passed up the opportunity to enjoy their wines. 

The 2017 Esporao Branca Reserva is blend of 5 native grapes found in the Alentejo region of Portugal. It is a full bodied white, with many more flavors than Chardonnay, offering much more complexity in a rich, fruit driven style.

That’s why the 2017 Esporao Branca Reserva is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Dayi