Hello Prince Albert! The weather has been amazing this last week of August, and it feels like a final taste of summer before fall officially takes over. Autumn tends to bring a sense of melancholy for many which inspired me to seek out foods and beverages synonymous with hotter seasons this week. Reminding myself that summer isn’t over yet (not if I can help it!), I scanned the French section for some tasty white wines when I came across two rose wines which caught my attention. Let’s talk about rose and discuss why reading wine labels can lead you to better-tasting wines.
One of the first things to catch my eye walking into the liquor store was the display of 1 liter French rose bottles from the AOC-designated Pays d’Oc region. $20 after taxes for a 1L bottle of French rose? Surely, there must be some sort of catch! I was pleasantly surprised by this light-colored rose from the Pays d’Oc area and despite the color being so light (the color is not always an indicator of intensity or flavor), this wine brings some decent flavor for the purchase price. Technically, the Cote Mas Rose is a GSM, a blend made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre with a splash of Cinsault thrown in. This blend is typically found in the Cotes du Rhone region, so I was excited to give it a taste.
The Pays d’Oc region is the largest producing area of wine in France and for that reason, the grapes sourced for their wines can include a dizzying array of grape varietals and stylistic variations on the types of wines made. I’ve mentioned in a previous column that the wines of Pays D’Oc seem to be on the generic side, but they are still made with expertise and craftmanship. This is obvious when you sniff the Cote Mas rose as the aromas of a fresh flower boutique fill your nose followed by candied fruits. It is a delectable scent which is backed up by the taste when you take a sip. Flavors of citrus peels, hard fruit candies and flower blossoms interchange and mingle for a refreshing sipping wine.
Moving on to Le Petit Chat, the label gives us a possible indication of what to expect. It states it is a “Product of France” which means the grapes can come from anywhere in France and there aren’t restrictions or standards like those found in the Pays d’Oc region. What does this mean? The grapes used to make the wine can be of any quality and can be bottled/aged for an indeterminate amount of time before sale. An AOC like Pays d’Oc will have limits on yields, grape varietals allowed (along with standardized quality requirements), aging requirements (either in the bottle or tank/barrel), etc.
Even though the Petit Chat is cute and will quench your thirst on a hot day, the flavors are confused and muddled with the floral bitterness acting as the highlight of the wine. While bitterness can be enjoyable and add texture and flavor to a wine, it is not as desirable when it overtakes the flavor profile. I would save the Petit Chat rose as one of the last bottles of the night after you’ve finished the good stuff. It’s not terrible or bad, it just didn’t refresh or delight me the way I had hoped, and it doesn’t offer the greatest value. Here are my wine picks of the week!
Le Petit Chat Rose 2023: (Product of France). Dry rose wine, pale salmon color. The nose is simple with medium-intense notes of light florals, strawberries and raspberries. On the palate, the first noticeable flavors are slightly bitter and flowery. Medium-plus acidity cleans away the floral flavors which leaves muddled red berries (raspberry, cherry). While the wine is light and easy to sip with crisp acidity, it also tastes somewhat generic and bland as nothing really jumps out. There isn’t much depth of flavor or intensity, but this rose does quench the thirst on a hot day and after a few sips, it is pleasant enough. The finish is medium length with light flower blossom notes and hints of berries. When pairing with foods, consider the lower intensity level of the wine compared to the food you’re serving; try roast chicken or light salads with bacon, avocado, boiled eggs and an oil vinaigrette. The score loses a point due to the basic flavor and bitterness. Average. $23, 12.5% ABV
Cote Mas Sud de France Rose 2024: (AOC Pays d’Oc, France). Dry rose, pale salmon color. The bouquet from the nose is like a flower shop with potpourri, rose petals, floral soap, fresh linens and perfumed citrus peels (lemon, grapefruit). Light bodied with medium-minus intensity, this rose delivers some delicious fruit candy notes (apple, lemon, grapefruit) and mellow medium acidity followed by light citrus peel bitterness after the fruity mid-palate. As the acidity buzzes over the tastebuds, the flavor profile shifts from citrus fruits to floral characteristics and back again on the impressively long finish. I kept coming back for another taste and really enjoyed how the flavors bounced around. The zesty fruit peels don’t overdo the bitter tones, and the fruit flavors bring a powerful nostalgic memory of tasting candies from a tin at Grandma’s house, which seemed to take on the flavors of the soap or potpourri they must have been sitting beside. This is one of the best deals I’ve found all year on wine since you get 1 liter of tasty wine for a great price. Drink this on a hot day and soak up the last of summer. Pair with porkchops, pork sausages from the grill or summer salad (bacon/lardons, grapefruit and arugula/rocket lettuce with sliced fennel and roasted pine nuts). Gains an extra point for the amazing value! Very good! $20, 12.5% ABV
Cheers and thanks for reading!
