Rose Cheeks!

Now before I begin I want to clarify that when I say Rose, I am not referring to the flower, but the style of wine. Unfortunately this blogger is ill equipped to provide for you that silly little french accent aigu that should reside on the "e". So for all intents and purposes, just imagine it's there.

I know this is a little belated but a couple of weeks ago I was pouring at a B.C. Rose tasting and I was tickled pink by the outcome. My conclusion being that yes, B.C. is definitely capable of making a great Rose wine. I don't know why I was surprised, I guess because I've always been somewhat hesitant to give Roses the equal respect and consideration I would to a red or white wine. Living in today's society we are taught that discrimination is wrong, well the same principle should be applied to wine.

Never discriminate regardless of how "out" the style or varietal or blend may seem at the time. Consider yourself a pioneer, a true wine enthusiast if you are willing to look beyond stereotypes in the wine world. I'm sure you've all heard of the ABC's- "Anything But Chardonnay" C'est horrible! PLEASE resist the impulse to conform to mainstream ideals about what's cool to drink and what's not, I guarantee you, it's an overinflated balloon of B.S. waiting to pop all over you!

I've created a nice little segway...Rose is another style of wine that has routinely suffered. I can appreciate that yes, the style is seasonal, and more popular during the warmer months of spring and summer but I don't believe it should be all together ruled out by drinkers on the whim that it is "unfashionable." It doesn't matter if it's the dead of winter, I always pair an off dry Rose with my spicy Thai or Indian food. It's an essential and a fantastic combo. Try it if you don't believe me...try it even if you do. So Which Rose?? Well here are a couple of suggestions, some of my newer faves that have been released this Spring.

1. Township 7 '07 Rose. This Rose is a little less obvious as far as fruit goes. It is done in a dryer style, no residual sugar, and although I don't know the exact blend, I can tell you it's elegantly subtle. The nose is somewhat floral and the palate expresses hints of rhubarb and finishes with layers of citrus and grapefruit. A great wine with Salmon!

2. Stags Hollow '09 Syrah Rose. This lovely wine is a frisky blend of 90% Syrah, 9% Viognier, and 1% Muscat. This wine in "grapey", a mundane way to describe a wine I know but it's soo true. Ever had a wine made from concord grapes? Or to simply even further, ever had grape juice? Well this wine smells just like it. How appropriate. The nose is consumed by grape bubblegum, complimented by intense strawberry and cranberry flavors on the palate. It's slightly off dry on account of the fruit but shows adequate restraint throughout, not a fruit bomb. A Rose pleaser for both the ladies and gents.

3. Church and State '08 Cabernet Blanc. Doesn't sound like a familiar variety does it? Don't let the clever name fool you. It's a play on white Cabernet Sauvignon- Cab wihout the color, so to speak. Hence, Cabernet Blanc. The new coming vintage is made from 100% Cabernet Franc by the way, and it's extraordinary as is this! If I were to blindfold you before smelling this Rose, you would almost certainly think it was a red wine. There is that familiar herbacious aroma that we so commonly associate with Cab Sauv in cooler climates. By no means unfavorable however, sweet asparagus is the best way to describe it. The experience on your palate is quite unexpected, an initial burst of red fruit, ripe strawberries, followed by canned Mandarin oranges on the finish. If I had to classify sweetness, I would say slightly off dry, I believe it's the fruit your tasting. I'm pretty sure this wine was fermented to dryness. A Red masquerading as a Rose.

4. 8th Generation '08 Pinot Meunier. This baby is 100% Pinot Meunier, one of the 3 grapes that are commonly used in Champagne. This wine is most definitely off dry, however its beauty lies in the quintessential balance between the acid and the sugar. It's on the sweet end yes, but it works! It's summer in a glass...all you need is a patio and a straw. It's fantastic! It took me a awhile to pinpoint what it was that I was tasting and I finally had my eureka moment, a watermelon jolly ranger! There's no better way to describe the palate. The aromas are somewhat nostalgic for me, I am reminded of childhood past times; in the kitchen with my Grandma while she cooked rhubarb on the stove, as well the summer carnival where candied apples and fairy floss were dietary essentials. It's deliciously comforting to drink.

There you go, not an exhaustive list but it's a start anyway. For those of you who cannot get ahold of these wines, don't let that stop you. Walk into your local wine shop or liquor store, and with your head held high demand for the best Rose that they carry. Ooh and be sure to check the price tag before bringing it to the counter.
You should be able to find a great Rose for under 20$ no problem! And for the record, to all those wine fashionistas out there, Rose is soo totally hot right now!