Buddy, Can You Spare Some Pink?
Now that the weather is warm, it’s time for a good dry rosé
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 10:00am ET
You could actually get a glass of rosé at this year's
Auction Napa Valley. And why not? It was a beautiful, warm afternoon on
Saturday. I remember an auction back in the late 1990s that was so sweltering
under the tent that I thought of a classic line from Biloxi Blues: "It's Africa hot. Tarzan couldn't take this kind of
hot."
That day,
people were practically crawling across the Meadowood lawn like it was the
sandy Mojave in search of something cool and refreshing. And all they could
find was Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Warm Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. They could have
raised $100,000 on a single chilled bottle of rosé that day. I would have
chipped in.
Not that
rosé was overflowing at this year's auction. You had to search it out. I'm not
naive. I know the CEOs of Symantec and Qualcomm don't schlep all the way to
Napa and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to sip a tasty little pink.
In the best
of all worlds—even in Napa—there would be red and pink (and maybe whites
and bubbly, too, but I'm trying to make a point here).
The 2011
rosés from Europe are just starting to trickle into this part of the West
Coast. It's not the good selection you might find on the East Coast, but I
always look for wines like Domaine de Fontsainte Corbières Gris de Gris,
Château d'Esclans Côtes de Provence Rosé Whispering Angel, Château La Gordonne
Côtes de Provence Rosé La Chapelle and Château Routas Coteaux Varois Rosé Rouvière.
California
rosés aren't much easier to find, mainly because they're made in such small
amounts and are mostly through winery mailing lists and tasting rooms.
One of my
favorites so far is Carol Shelton Rendezvous Rosé North Coast 2011 (90 points,
$15), a zesty pink made mostly from Carignane and Zinfandel. I've already done
blind reviews of some excellent 2011s, including Cline Mourvèdre Contra Costa
County Rosé, Tablas Creek Paso Robles Rosé, Quivira North Coast Rosé and
Pedroncelli Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Dry Rosé. Look for my notes and ratings
online soon.
Now
that it's officially rosé season, have you tried the latest releases of some of your
favorites? What wines would you recommend? I'm always looking for a new pink to
uncork.
Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes Rose Reserve $8 per bottle after case discount.