Rain, rain go away, rosé season better be here to stay

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/06/2024 (842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s looking like we might get a bit of a break from the dark clouds and the seemingly never-ending intermittent rain this weekend — yes, that big orange ball in the sky seems set to once again make an appearance.

And with sun and warmer temps comes the perfect opportunity to dive head-first (or glass first) into rosé season.

Not that you can’t enjoy pink wines year-round — after all, not all rosés are created equal. While some are certainly better-suited to warmer temperatures and summer fare (think pale, elegant pink wines from France’s Provence region, for example), there are many (particularly New World examples) that bring great depth of flavour and are enjoyable any time of year.

That being said, this is definitely the time of year when there are more rosé wines available in our market. It’s also when we’re more inclined to enjoy grilled fare and salads and such that pair well with these wines.

Check out your favourite wine shop and see what options are out there for rosés to enjoy in the backyard, on a patio or in your favourite sunny (or sun-adjacent) spot. Tasting notes on a few I’ve recently tried below.

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A few wine-related events on the horizon:

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Many thanks to those who responded to my general query/survey on what you’d like to see more/less of in this space — I had some surprisingly lovely responses and some thoughtful feedback. Because I was away, and (unrelatedly) am now stumbling around Uncorked HQ with a nasty-ish case of COVID, I’ve not had a chance to respond to most of you, but I’ll get there.

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Wines of the week

Royal Ackerman NV Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé (Loire Valley, France — around $30, private wine stores)

Very pale pinkish-orange in colour, this sparkling wine from France’s Loire Valley is made from Pinot Noir, and aromatically offers delicate yeast, floral, strawberry and peach notes.

It’s light-bodied, dry and crisp, with lively bubbles that elevate the peach and red berry flavours, a bread dough note that adds complexity, medium acidity that delivers verve and a medium-length finish.

Quality-wise it’s as good as some entry-level Champagnes, at a far better price. 4.5/5

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M. Chapoutier 2022 Rosé (Côtes-du-Rhône, France — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Pale pink in colour, this Rhône Valley rosé is made primarily from Grenache grapes, with some Cinsault and Syrah thrown in as well.

It offers lovely ripe strawberry and watermelon aromas that come with fresh-cut floral and pear notes; on the light-bodied palate comes big, ripe fruit flavours, with a splash of acidity and, at 14 per cent alcohol, a slightly warm finish.

Gutsier in flavour than the appearance might suggest; well done. 3.5/5

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Bodegas Bleda 2023 Castillo de Jumilla Monastrell Rosé (Jumilla, Spain — around $17, private wine stores)

This organic, vegan Spanish rosé made from Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) grapes is medium pinkish-orange in colour and aromatically offers fresh strawberry and peach aromas as well as rose petal, raspberry and subtle herbal notes.

It’s light-bodied and dry, offering decent intensity of flavour, particularly the juicy (but not sweet) strawberry, cranberry and raspberry components.

There’s some acidity that comes with a hint of chalkiness on the relatively short finish. Quite tasty — this one may only be available at Kenaston Wine Market. 3.5/5

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Vintage Ink 2022 Pink Ink (Okanagan Valley, B.C. — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot grapes, the Pink Ink is deeper salmon-ish pink in colour, with strawberry and raspberry candy aromas as well as hints of spice and ripe peach.

It’s a medium-bodied and off-dry rosé, and that sweetness as well as some viscosity ramps up the red berry candy and sweet orange flavours while adding cotton candy and tropical notes as well.

Slightly confected, and lacking subtlety — perhaps a good base for a rosé spritzer? 2.5/5

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Chronos 2022 Rosé (Okanagan Valley — $32.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This southern Okanagan Valley rosé, made entirely from Syrah grapes, is pale pink in colour and offers fresh raspberry and strawberry aromas as well as hints of peach, watermelon and fresh-cut flowers.

While fermented bone dry, there’s a good amount of ripeness to the red berry and stone fruit flavours without getting cloying — rather, it manages to tread the line between the up-front fruitiness of New World rosés and the elegance of examples from Provence. Very well done. 4.5/5

uncorked@mts.net

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