I know the recent heat wave might have jarred your memory, but your Latin teacher explained that omne trium perfectum means that good things come in threes, as do these rose wines.
Jean-Luc Colombo, Cape Bleue Rose, Mediterranee, 2023
In the early 1980s, former pharmacist Jean-Luc Colombo merged his knowledge of chemistry with winemaking. His fame is built on the outstanding Rhone wines that he makes with his wife, Anne, who has a degree in enology. Together, they produce a range of red and white wines, along with this delicious Cape Bleue Rose.
From vineyards near Aix-en-Provence, they blend equal parts of the region’s two most important red grapes, syrah and mourvedre, creating the 2023 Cape Bleue Rose with a poached salmon color, and thyme, oregano, sea salt, and orange aromas. On the palate, the light body glides with ripe red fruits, minerality, and a long finish of crisp citrus-like acidity. This is a delightful rose that is ideal for your summer lunch party, or a dinner of salmon and orzo mixed with diced garden vegetables. 91 points. Retail prices range from a bargain $13 to a reasonable $18.
Rose Jean-Luc Colombo
Saget La Petite Perriere, Rose, Vin du France, 2023
The Loire Valley stretches about 170 miles across France; its proximity to Paris made it the summer retreat for royalty and the rich, leaving a treasure chest of stunning chateaux with eye-popping details, sumptuous gardens and mouthwatering wines. In such a milieu, it seems only right that this eye-catching, delicious and elegant rose should originate in the valley and from vineyards adjacent to the Sancerre appellation
For nine generations, the Saget family has inhabited the Sancerre area. Their vineyards span 95 acres with sauvignon blanc occupying 85 of them, and pinot noir planted in the other 10. La Petite Perriere Rose wears the Vin du France designation as the rose’s pinot noir grapes are sourced from the Saget’s Loire Valley vineyards and from growers in the south of France. Winemakers Phillipe Reculet and Laurent Saget created an orange-tinted wine that releases aromas ranging from citrus to cherries and strawberries. The harmonious rich fruit flavors and acidity leave a long, elegant texture in the finish. This is a superb wine and a remarkable rose. It is scheduled for distribution later this summer. 95 points. At less than $15 the price is as satisfying as the wine.
Rose Saget La Petite Perriere
As I opened the liter bottle of Cote Mas Aurore Rose, 2023 I recalled that in the mid-2000s, I met winemaker Jean-Claude Mas on his turf. It was a warm summer day in the Languedoc, a region that runs from Provence to the Pyrenees Mountains and borders Spain. It is a land of bramble, sunbaked soil, and hills dotted with medieval castles, culminating in the fortress town Carcassone.
With an air of nonchalance, Mas told his story of being introduced to wine in his grandfather’s cellar when he was three years old. Years later, he established an organic wine company in England, and lived in Miami where his position at the French consulate was to develop importing and distributing French wine and food products.
He said his other passion was cars and that he detoured from the world of wine and food to auto racing for three years. But, in the end, wine won the race. Of course, you should not expect that Jean-Claude slowed down. He returned to the 75 acres his father Paul Mas gave him in 1987, creating Domaine Paul Mas in 2000. Today, he owns nearly 2,000 acres of vineyards, 40% of which are certified organic.
The coral-colored Cote Mas Aurore Rose is a blend of 50% grenache, 30% cinsault and 20% syrah, all leading grapes of Languedoc and southern France. Lemon, thyme, parsley and orange aromas capture your attention, and a medium body is structured with hints of red fruits and mild acidity that softens in the finish with a subtle residual sugar. This style and bottle size makes the Cote Mas Aurore Rose the perfect summer afternoon wine for lunches and lounging on the deck or around the pool. 88 points. Retail prices range from $10 to $15.
Wishing you an enjoyable summer. And remember to practice your Latin.
Words and photos by John Foy
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