Rambling Rosé tasting notes- Pink is the food link by Darryl Beeson The very, very world-class San Antonio New World Wine and Food Festival hosted a pre-event to taste an array of rosés. The location was Becker Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country (more information is at www.beckervineyards.com). Located in the Texas Hill Country between Fredericksburg and Stonewall, Becker Vineyards was established in 1992 by Richard and Bunny Becker. The vineyard was planted on a site of native Mustang grapes much prized for winemaking by German neighbors and their ancestors. Also planted on site is a three acre lavender field reminiscent of the wine country of Provence, France. The San Antonio New World Wine and Food Festival is slated for November 7th-11th with details at www.nwwff.org and deserves your participation. Rosés are most often dry and complex in a special way. It has been written that if one mentions 'rose to the average wine buff and you get a shrug of the shoulders.. Mention rose to a winemaker and you will get a spirited explanation of why they do or do not make one. The public also tends to equate them with those varietals with the words 'white' in front of them, those barely pink in color and generally void of much character of the grape.' Realize that rosés can be very exciting wine matches with food. Rosé is all about casual drinking and enjoying warmer Fall weather and food. Quoted within The New York Times, 'Rosé has replaced prosecco and cosmos as the new chick drink,' says Ken Friedman, a partner with the Spotted Pig, a celebrity-friendly restaurant in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, offering five rosés on its wine list. Domaines Ott is a family owned operation involving three estates that produce an extensive portfolio of provencale wines in three colors, and realize that some observe that the bottle shapes will scare most informed wine-geeks away. Domaines Ott 'Les Domaniers de Puits Mouret' Côtes de Provence Rosé, 2006 Price $20-25 Rating 93 The exact blend contains Cinsaut, Grenache and Syrah. The color is very light being barely salmon. The nose offers subtle mineral and strawberry. The sip is big and bright with grapefruit, citrus and more subtle strawberry in the long, interesting length. Becker 'Provencal' Rosé, Tallent Vineyards, Texas Hill Country 2005 Price $10 Rating 91 'This dry wine is made from limited grenache skin contact, giving the wine a hint of color. This wine is crisp with delicate pear, floral, and strawberry notes,' says winery co-founder Dr. Richard Becker. 'Food complements include lobster, turkey, salmon, or even sushi.' Both nougat and mineral lead in the nose, with a smoky, vanilla edge in the sip, followed by a long length of subtle cherry. This wine garnered a Champion Award from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition in 2007. That's no bull. McPherson Rosé, Texas 2006 Price $10 Rating 91 The grape blend is both syrah and grenache. The nose reveals dried cranberry and more soft, red fruit. The sip demonstrates nougat with dried cherry and bits of lemon peel. The wine is very dry and balanced. Kim McPherson's wines have a dedicated following. His father, Dr. Clinton 'Doc' McPherson, is known as the founder of the modern Texas wine industry, and was one of the first people to plant vinifera grapes in the state. Perrin Reserve Rosé Côtes du Rhône, 2006 Price $10 Rating 85 This wine tastes as if it is from a warm place, the color is an intense pink. The nose is fresh, of raspberries and red currants, the sip is soft with fruity roundness in the middle, and a lively cherry finish. The blend is primarily Cinsault (60%), then Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre. Traditional winemaking by saignée, the French term meaning 'to bleed', for a wine-making technique which results in a rosé wine made by running off or 'bleeding', a certain amount of free-run juice from just-crushed dark-skinned grapes. Pair this food destined wine with any summer foods or Mediterranean dishes. A perfect pairing could be grilled pork ribs with a fruit-reduced glaze. Montes 'Cherub' Rose, Chile 2006 Price $13.99 Rating 89 It has an intensly pink color. Both on the nose and palate it shows distinctive syrah (100%) character, with some pepper, wasabi-like spiciness and hints of strawberries along with lively floral flavors. Good fruit concentration leads to a delightfully long finish. A fantastic wine for end of summer gatherings. Consider pairing with shrimp, fish or prosciutto appetizers. It could be perfection with roast pork or ribs without any sweet sauce. Keep the food pairing non-sweet. I'M Rosé, Napa 2006 Price $14 Rating 86 This Napa Valley Rose was inspired by and made for Isabel Mondavi by her son Rob. The special relationship shared by Isabel and Rob allows him to interpret and develop her desires into a finished product. Rob is not only the winemaker, but he also came up with the brand name, the ‘I'M' are her initials. 'Not new to the wine industry, Isabel has witnessed the business first hand for 39 years and now has designed wines which reflect her own style,' observes a family spokesperson. This Rosé is a dry wine with good structure, acidity, and an enjoyable long finish. There are delicate flavors of cherry and hints of rose petal. The crisp acidity allows for pairing with diverse styles of food. The producers suggest matches such as Thai and other 'haute-Asian cuisines.' Chandon Rosé, California N.V. Price $17 Rating 93 In the glass, the color is a dramatic deep pink with a blush of sunset. Intense ripe strawberry, juicy watermelon, and fresh red cherry fruit aromas and flavors are interwoven with apple, pear, and stone fruit. On the palate, the wine is creamy and luscious, with crisp structure. The well-developed fruit and structure of this wine make it a perfect partner with intensely flavored dishes from Asia and Latin America as well as more traditional Mediterranean and continental fare including seafood, shellfish, duck and lamb.   For more great wine suggestions, click here Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.