“…these are all good variations on the dry rosé theme that deliver solid QPR…”

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I’ve been seeing a lot of ads in the last few weeks telling me that, with the weather warming, we’re now into dry rosé season. I’m not about to quibble with this commonly-held perception, despite the fact that we drink the stuff all year around at our house. If it’s “dry rosé season,” there should be more selections to sample, right? We may have our favorites, but we like to explore the varieties of the dry rosé experience from around the globe, and it seems like there are more good selections to choose from all the time.

Here are just the three latest examples that have crossed our paths. They are all worthy of your consideration.

2021 Chateau de Campuget Tradition Rosé Costieres de Nimes, 70% Syrah,
30% Grenache Noir, 13% alc., $11.99: Watermelon pink in color, with strawberries and dusty mineral on the nose, with a mix of watermelon, strawberries and that same dusty mineral on the palate. Medium bodied, with good acids, intensity and length, this decidedly dry rosé plays well with a variety of foods and drinks deliciously on its own. Very good QPR here; this is an excellent choice for an everyday rosé. I got this one at Holiday Market, but I’ve seen it at a number of other retailers around town too. Find this wine

Imported by Dreyfus Ashby and Co., New York, NY

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It’s not often that I happen upon a dry rosé from California’s Central Coast, and this winery produces nothing but. I had never heard of Malene until I saw this bottle at our friendly neighborhood Costco, where it sells for $7 less than listed on the Malene website.

2021 Malene Central Coast Rosé, 12% alc., $14.99: A pale salmon pink in color, but this is no lightweight rosé. There’s good intensity to the peachy strawberry flavors, with enough mineral underneath to keep my interest. Medium bodied and then some, with good acids and decent length on the finish. Easy to like and quite food friendly, this is a worthy addition to the lineup of good values in dry rosé in the $10-15 range found hereabouts. Find this wine

Our wines are designed to capture the essence of life, whether it be a casual moment or a sophisticated evening. Malene sources traditional rosé grape varietals – Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle (Vermentino), Mourvedre, Syrah and Counoise. When blended, these varietals work harmoniously to create our flagship cuvée, Malene Rosé. When bottled on its own, these distinctive varietals are beautiful expressions of their unique terroir and fruit characteristics.

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I’ve had many wines from M. Chapoutier over the years, from their high-end Rhônes to their everyday lineup. They have a long-established track record of high quality, so it was no great leap for me to try this bottle. 

2021 M. Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone Belleruche Rosé, 13% alc., $13.99: Sporting a pretty pink hue, this is a nicely balanced, medium bodied wine that does everything a good dry rosé should. It’s not “mineral-driven,” per se, but there are some nice stony undertones to the pleasant watermelon and strawberry flavors. Each sip reinforces the impression of balance; even the active acids work in harmony with all the other components to make this a wine with good intensity, and no rough edges. Another good value here, and I happily poured myself a second glass. This is also widely available, but the Market Fresh price listed above is the lowest I’ve found so far. Find this wine

As I said, these are all good variations on the dry rosé theme that deliver solid QPR, but ironically, I like the least expensive model, the Campuget, the best, for its mineral-driven character. Your mileage may vary, however, so give them all a try. You won’t go wrong with any of these satisfying libations.

Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo

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