Score: 90/100
This Rhône rosé wine from the village appellation of Gigondas comes from vines grown on chalk and clay-soil slopes on the family-owned estate.
It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault.
Grapes are hand-picked. The Grenache is directly pressed and blended with rosé-coloured Syrah and Cinsault juice (bled from the red wine fermenting vats a few hours after the crush, the saignée technique). It is then fermented at a low temperature (16°C) to preserve the fruity character.
Tasting Notes
This Gigondas rosé comes in a delicate and rather pale (though not super pale) pink color, slightly salmon with orange hues, but with hints of purple that make it look particularly elegant… and appealing!
From there, the nose doesn’t disappoint, as it does feel very appealing as well.
Light and bright aromas of fresh pear are elegantly accompanied by delicate notes of vanilla and fresh hazelnut from obvious fine oaky notes.
Not a whole lot of depth to the smell, but it is lifted and fruity, and tempting which is a big part of what we like and expect from a good wine’s nose.
The palate follows suit with a super-smooth feel from soft and silky oak tannins, a round body, and vanilla-scented fruitiness of mixed fruits: lemon, acidic red berries, and pear.
It is dry, but so upfront fruity and with caramel and toasted nuts tones from the oak that it feels mellowed and with a touch of delicate sweetness.
Overall
An exquisite rosé wine displaying fruit character as well as a certain minerality in a dry food-friendly style.
It is so mellowed and smoothened by quality oak that it is simply a delightful serious of a rose to sip and enjoy nonchalantly with delicate foods.
If you love well-integrated oak characters, as well as upfront fruity dry wines with character, try this and let me know what you think in the comments section. But I think you’ll like it!
When to drink?
As young of a wine as this may be as I am tasting this 2016 early into 2017, no need to wait to enjoy it. It will be ready for full-swing summer 2017 enjoyment for sure, but will probably be still excellent in 2018 and 2019, having developed more depth and integrated the oak a little further.
Enjoy 🙂
Please let me know your thoughts