Classic French Rosés!

Provence, Where the Best Rosés Come From!

The beautiful weather is here; now is the perfect time to relax, sit, and sip a delicious, refreshing wine. A 2020 Rosé fits that bill perfectly. As I have said in the past, Provence in southeast France, produces the best Rosé in the world. They have been producing Rosé in their seaside, sun-soaked vineyards for a hundred years, and in some regions, Rosé is the only style produced. I am always looking for the best examples of all wines, but also ones that offer value to you! Today, we are offering two wines which without question, represent this region and its wines while offering serious value to all of us who love this style.

When looking for imported wines, first look for the most reputable importers. If you look at the back of the bottles on our imported selections, you will see many with the names European Cellars, Vineyard Brands, Louis/Dressner or Rosenthal Wine Merchant. These are without question, four of the top importers, in the USA. I found the two wines we are featuring today with Rosenthal early in the spring. Rosenthal is known for wines with a “sense of place” and today’s wines are no exception.

Chateau Pradeaux is one of my favorite producers in Bandol where the Mourvèdre grape is king. In the region of Bandol, there are quite a few producers but Pradeaux is among the best alongside Domaine Tempier, Terrebrune, and Château Pibarnon. The vineyards are located in the village of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer, directly on the Mediterranean Sea. Pradeaux has been in the same family since 1752, at which time Jean-Marie-Etienne Portalis inherited the domaine. Portalis actually helped draft the Napoleonic Code and assisted with the negotiation of the Concordat under Napoleon the First. Today, the domaine is under the direction of Cyrille Portalis, who maintains this very traditional estate, assisted by his wife, Magali, and his two sons, Etienne and Edouard. Everything is farmed organically without the use of any herbicides or pesticides.

Étienne Portalis, of Château Pradeaux, introduced Neil Rosenthal to Roselyn Gavoty. Roselyn is the eighth generation at the helm of Gavoty, her family’s domaine since 1806. Domaine Gavoty typically sells their wines to high-end restaurants in France, so Rosenthal was thrilled for the opportunity to import their wines into the US, as they certainly fit with the other wines in his portfolio and truly show a "sense of place."

These are both in stock at all locations and will drink great all year long, Chateau Pradeaux for another year no problem. Stop in and browse our large and always changing Rosé selections.

Domaine Gavoty La Cigale Rosé 2020 750mL

This is a blend of mostly Grenache and Cinsault with a small amount of Syrah and Carignan mixed in. The wine is named "La Cigale" after the Cicadas found in the region. It has a perfect light Provençal color with juicy strawberry and tart cranberry flavors. There is a hint of saline on the dry finish making this a perfect wine for light foods. We ordered 30 cases but it is doubtful it will last very long.

Château Pradeaux Rosé 2020 750mL

Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is based on Cinsault (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%), taking its slight orange tint from the latter cépage. The younger vines of the domaine (average age: 25 years) are utilized to produce a rare rosé with staying power and exceptional complexity.