Tuesday, July 19, 2022

2020 Hampton Water Languedoc Rosé

Well, it's certainly feeling a lot more like summer, highs today in the upper 80s (with mid-90s predicted for tomorrow!) and humidity of 85% it seems perfect for a nice bottle of rosé!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2020 Hampton Water Languedoc Rosé.  This wine is another collaboration between fame and wine, as it's the result of a collaboration between Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse, along with Gerard Bertrand to create a unique rosé from the Languedoc region in the south of France.  This wine is a blend of Grenache(60%), Cinsault (15%), Mourvedre (15%) and Syrah (10%).  So, let's see how refreshing this wine can be on a hot, humid evening!

2020 Hampton Water Languedoc Rosé

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, which seems to be the trend among rosé the past couple years.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of peach, strawberry and a bit of citrus that invites you to imbibe.  Take a sip and you're transported to the beach, with a rush of wonderful fresh fruit dancing on your palate, intermingled with some earthy notes of basalt.  The finish is wonderfully crisp and dry with just a hint of acidity at the end.

Low country boil of crawfish, corn and potatoes

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an ideal everyday rosé and a good value at just $19.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer dishes, though it practically begs to be consumed with seafood.  Which comes in handy as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of low country boil as I picked up some crawfish over the weekend, along with corn and potatoes and some creole and Old Bay seasoning makes for a perfect summer patio meal.  Cheers!

Sunday, July 17, 2022

2021 Réserve de l'Abbé Côtes du Rhône Rosé

Happy Sunday!  It's been an incredibly busy week with work, so I'm afraid I haven't had much time for blogging or drinking wine, but at least tonight I have a small break.  Since we are now in the heart of rosé season, and because today has been incredibly warm and humid, I've decided to open a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2021 Réserve de l'Abbé Côtes du Rhône Rosé is a blend of Grenache and Syrah from the left bank of the Rhone in the Enclave des Papes region of France.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

2021 Réserve de l'Abbé Côtes du Rhône Rosé

The wine is a very pale peach color in the glass, nearly bordering on the look of a white wine.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of ripe red berry fruit, strawberry, currant and raspberry with just a hint of citrus undertones.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe red fruit, as this is a very fruit forward wine, with notes of cherry and raspberry up front that transitions to hints of lemongrass and watermelon midpalate, creating a lively crispness on the palate.  The finish is crisp and dry, making this a refreshing and food friendly rosé for summer.

Homemade eggplant parmesan

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking rosé for summer and it was also a terrific value at just $10.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, such as caprese or a roasted beet and feta over arugula, as well as spicy dishes, including fajitas or even a rich curry.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a comfort food favorite as I made some fresh eggplant parmesan with a couple of eggplants I bought at the farmers market yesterday.  Cheers!

Sunday, July 10, 2022

2021 Sieur d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, so it figures that right at the end of it, I finally have some time to sit down and enjoy a nice glass of wine.  Since we are in the heart of rosé season, I figured it would be nice to open a bottle and enjoy it with dinner and out on the patio, perhaps with a fire tonight.  So, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Sieur d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé that I bought in a recent $10 case sale from Wines Till Sold Out (and no, it wasn't $10 a case, but $10 per bottle in the case!).  The wine is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon, so, let's see how it's tasting.

2021 Sieur d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

The wine is a very pale peach color in the glass, as you might expect from the region.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of citrus, peach and honeydew with hints of mineral undertones.  Take a sip and your nose and taste buds part ways as you're treated to a rush of red berry fruit, strawberry, raspberry and currant, with just a touch of citrus at the finish, which is crisp and dry.

Classic tuna noodle casserole

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic rosé from Provence and a terrific value for just $10!  This wine would pair with a broad range of summer dishes, from barbecue to a wide range of salads, burgers to light fish dishes.  Tonight, I have gone completely the opposite direction and am enjoying this wine with some comfort food, of classic tuna noodle casserole topped with crushed potato chips!  Cheers!