Rosé

Here’s a more detailed look at their characteristics:

• Appearance: Rosé wines are always transparent, with colors ranging from pale pink to salmon or cherry pink. 
• Flavor:
  • Fruit: They often have red fruit flavors like strawberry, raspberry, and cherry, along with citrus and melon notes. 
  • Floral: Delicate floral notes like rose petal, hibiscus, and peony can also be present. 
  • Other: Herbal and vegetal qualities like celery, rhubarb, and pepper can also be found. 
• Body: Rosé wines tend to be lighter in body compared to red wines. 
• Sweetness: Rosé wines can be dry, off-dry, or slightly sweet, depending on the grape variety and production methods. 
• Acidity: Many rosés have a refreshing acidity. 
• Varietal Influence: The specific flavors of a rosé can vary based on the grape variety used, with Grenache-based rosés often having a lighter, crisper style with strawberry and watermelon notes, while Cabernet Sauvignon rosés can have more depth and deeper flavors. 

Notes on three of the wines we tasted:

Bila-Haut

It was in Latour de France that he chose to set up his domain. The vines of Bila-Haut and Occultum Lapidem were the first expressions of this terroir. Then there followed 6 years of reflexion, observation and analysis to produce a precious, rare wine: v.i.t. The story continued near a little village called Lesquerde. Steep, craggy limestone, arid soil, battered by the tramontane wind… A wine wriggled free from the grasp of nature: L’esquerda. Eventually, Single Vineyard Selections r.i. and Chrysopée were able to reveal new nuances of this precious terroir.

Pikasi Barbera Rosé

Winery: Pikasi

Classification: Dry rosé wine 

Varietals: 100% Barbera 

Appellation: Brje, Vipava Valley, Slovenia 

Density & Yield: 4,000 vines/ha; 1.5 kg/vine 

Annual Production: 2,400 bottles 

Alcohol: 13% 

Climate: Mild Mediterranean, with dry and hot summers, and mild winters. 

Terrain: Vipava Valley is right on the border of Slovenia, just north of the Italian port city of Trieste. The area is made up of steep hills, where the continental climate of the Alps collides with the more moderate mild Mediterranean climate from the Adriatic. Vineyards are located on steep, karst mountain tops, where the temperature is cooler and the soil contains mineral-rich marl, which makes it incredibly helpful in drainage of rainfall. 

Farming: Practicing organic. The vineyards have no irrigation, and spraying is done only with sulfites and copper, if needed. 

Vinification: All grapes are hand-picked, de-stemmed, and pressed immediately. Spontaneous fermentation process is temperature controlled and takes place in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then matured on lees in stainless steels tanks for 5 months, then coarsely filtered before bottling, and released to the market 2 months after bottling. 

Tasting Notes: This wine offers aromas of strawberry rhubarb pie, which lead to a creamy and slightly salty mouthfeel with a lingering finish. 

Perfect refreshment for a warm day, this wine will also pair nicely with young cheeses, charcuterie, salads, baked fish and roasted vegetables.