2016 Marsannay Rosé

The reasons to drink Burgundy are bountiful, but motives like carefree bliss, midday refreshment, and the sun came out are rarely cited. No, the great whites and reds of Burgundy provide a more somber, serious type of satisfaction—they gratify on an introspective level, in which a sophisticated, almost intellectual allure supplements a stirringly emotional component. Crisp whites from Savoie or the Loire, in addition to juicy chilled Beaujolais, are more typically summoned when the goal is to simply whet one’s palate.

That is, until you splash some of Régis Bouvier’s Marsannay rosé into your glass. Hailing from the only rosé-producing village on the Côte d’Or, it radiates a bright perfume of pomegranate, cranberry, and cherry before a bone-dry, chalky finish. The Pinot fruit is fine and nuanced—as it should be, coming from these hallowed slopes—but Régis has also captured a whimsical element that is often lacking in wines from this area. The perfect quaffer for warm fall evenings, it has even been known to inspire giggles as it races down the hatch.  —Anthony Lynch

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Vintage 2016
• Bottle Size 750mL
• Blend Pinot Noir
• Appellation Marsannay
• Country France
• Region Burgundy
• Vineyard 15 years, 1.5 ha
• Soil Limestone, marl, clay, stone and gravel
• Winemaker Régis Bouvier
• Farming Lutte Raisonnée
• Alcohol 13%