Comments on: Rosé 2009s: Clos Roche Blanche, Peyrassol, and brightness

By: marty

marty — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:51:54 +0000

We have enjoyed Rosé for many years. I’m certain that I cannot say what would be the best vintage– 2001, when we became enchanted by Provencal rosés; 2004, when we branched out to Chiaretto because we visited Lake Garda? For us, rosé evokes memories of warm weather, leisure, holiday, friends, so we enjoy every vintage. Two comments about this year’s rosés: it’s my least favorite year of Peyrassol, which I find fruitier and fatter than usual. Perhaps too much Grenache, too little Cinsault, no Mourvedre making it closer to a Cotes du Rhone rosé than a Cotes de Provence Rosé? Secondly, I agree with Dave Erickson above. Never a fan of Zweigelt rosés, I am sooo enjoying the Tegernseerhof this year– absolutely dry, tart but not bitter, it would be a ringer in a Cotes de Provence tasting.

By: Steve Edmunds

Steve Edmunds — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:01:31 +0000

It was the best year in my memory for rosé here in CA also!

By: Bob R.

Bob R. — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:55:35 +0000

Can’t tell about 2009. We had 2 Provencal roses tonight — Chateau Grande Cassagne and La Ferme St. Pierre (OK, I’m stretching Provence to include the Costieres de Nimes) – and both were very good. And we’ve tried several dozen others already, with mixed results. Among our biggest dissapointments were 2 Pinot d’Aunis roses from a favorite producer the past 2 years: the cooperative in the Coteaux de Vendomois. And unfortunately, I have my doubts I’ll be able to find the Clos Roche Blanche, which we’ve enjoyed in past years.

By: Dave Erickson

Dave Erickson — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:15:49 +0000

2009 is the best rosé vintage, not that anyone keeps track of such a thing. But yeah, they’ve all been great, from Tavel, from Puglia, from basically every French and Italian appellation. Jeez, even the Zweigelt rosés are terrific.

By: jason carey

jason carey — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:38:49 +0000

I love the Clos Roche Blanche.. it always shocks me how high Crush’s prices are compared to other places.

By: Meg Houston Maker

Meg Houston Maker — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:11:59 +0000

I had my own little Crush rosé moment recently (and wrote about it here: http://www.makerstable.com/2010/06/domaine-de-fenouillet-ventoux-rose-2009.html). This admittedly slim evidence supports the suggestion that ’09 was not the strongest year for Provençal rosé. Still, it did its job; I found it refreshing, snappy, cooling—and evocative of what could be.