Simmer Season Rosé Sale
by Madison H. Brown
I always look forward to these wet, cold-weather months when my kitchen windows steam up from hours of slow-cooking something rich and brothy on the stove. This season is when I dig into my rosé stash, and not because it tastes like “liquid sunshine” or promises to fill my head with visions of a seaside vacation on the Med. No, it wasn’t until I began pairing blush-hued bottles with soul-warming winter recipes that I became a true believer in Kermit’s “rosé year-round” mantra. With just the right balance of structure and refreshing acidity, rosé is a sublime match for meaty stews, rich consommés, or whatever hodgepodge of ingredients I’ve thrown into a pot. Though a red may seem the obvious choice to spar with heartier fare, rosé has an uncanny ability to invigorate the taste buds, elevating and enriching flavors at table (rather than rivaling them). There is a distinct playfulness in pairing bright rosés with winter’s deep, diverse flavors, and since all rosés are 30% off during the month of February, now’s the time to stock up! Use promo code ROSE2024 at check-out. Here are a few of my favorites on sale now.
2021 Bandol Rosé
France | Provence
Terrebrune’s Bandol epitomizes the idea of a terroir-driven rosé, from the nose of thyme and white peach, redolent of a Provençal summer, to its mouthwateringly salty finish, a reminder that the sea is just a stone’s throw away. Accordingly, this 2021 is characterized by tangy, salty minerals underlying beautiful citrus and herbal notes.
Vigneron Reynald Delille is never shy to point out the aging potential of his rosé, often pulling out twenty-year-old bottles in pristine condition to prove his point. In its youth, its brightness makes it a great companion to seafood in their most basic form, including crudo, urchin, or grilled loup de mer (sea bass). With age, it picks up weight and develops deeper aromatics, allowing it to stand up to richer and more dishes. Terrebrune’s complex and invigorating 2021 has opened up beautifully. Try it alongside bouillabaisse for a très Provençal experience.
2020 Vino Rosato “SuperLuna”
Italy | Sicily
Patient and meticulous, Cesare Fulvio and Federica Turillo allow their wines ample time to rest in bottle. After three years spent slumbering, the 2020 is at the apogee of its orbit, bursting with crushed strawberry and savory balsamic aromas. Italian wedding soup with Sicilian sausage or a Tuscan ribollita would pair well.
2022 Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
France | Loire
Pinot Gris, or “Gray” Pinot feels like a misnomer once you lay eyes on ripened bunches of this variety. “Pink” or “Peachy” Pinot could have been a more apt description for the glowy, violet-hued orbs this “white” variety sprouts. At Domaine de Reuilly, Pinot Gris is planted on soil rich in sand and gravelly deposits resulting from the erosion of the Massif Central, giving a vivid and edgy expression of an otherwise supple and fragrant variety. After harvest, vigneron Joseph de Maistre lets berries linger a bit in the press to extract some pigment from the skins, which lend an autumnal blush of color. While it could pass for a blanc on the palate, this wine lives in its own category between white and rosé, perfectly exemplifying the French expression vin gris that describes this style of brief skin-contact vinification.
With fresh and floral notes of bergamot, white peach, and lychee, it pairs to perfection with a range of options. Ceviche, goat cheese tarts, pad thai, or green salads topped with roasted squash, tart dried cherries, and toasty pumpkin seeds are just a few flavorful ideas for such an invigorating wine. It can be challenging to find artisanal bottles anywhere (ones that are made organically and biodynamically no less!) for under twenty dollars, but with this sharp discount now is a great time to stow away a few Reuilly gris for the season.