French Rosés
by Jane Augustine
2023 Vin de Corse “Le Rosé de Pauline”
France | Corsica
At first glance, you might be underwhelmed by Marquiliani’s deceptively pale Rosé de Pauline. How could something so transparent impress the palate? Don’t be fooled—“Pauline” is surprisingly gourmand and a dreamy match for well-seasoned dishes. It’s juicy and herbal, which I like for summery salads that have a fruit component: watermelon, feta, and mint, or grilled peach, burrata, and basil.
2023 Bandol Rosé
France | Provence
How to turn a regular afternoon into a leisurely Provençal vacation? Open a Bandol rosé! Out of the four Bandol rosés we import, I personally love Agnès Henry’s for its effortless drinkability and refined class. Hearty Mourvèdre softens into something more elegant in her hands. It’s the obvious choice when the sun is beaming and a dip in the Med would require a plane ride.
2023 Collioure Rosé des Roches
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
An even blend of Syrah and Grenache, La Tour Vieille’s rosé from the seaport town of Collioure shows some of the structure and complexity we love in our rosés from the south of France while retaining a freshness and elegance that makes it a great pairing for grilled fish or mushroom pasta.
2022 Tavel “La Combe des Rieu”
France | Southern Rhône
I buckled a bit under the charm of this glowing, dark rosé. Petit’s Tavel is a heartbreaker, the kind of soulful wine that tastes almost fragile, as if one sip would shatter its weightless structure. But then it lingers, floats across your palate, hums a tune, and slakes your thirst.