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My Essential Rosé by Richard Betts

Provence, France 2015 (750mL)
$17.00
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Earth
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Alcohol

My Essential Rosé by Richard Betts


Rosé production can be quite deceiving. When we talk about well-made rosé, we are not talking about the dark pink, sweet and extracted styles you might see in many new world examples. We’re talking about salmon pink, classic expressions of dry rosé that are some of the most food-friendly wines on the planet. Most all wine professionals would agree that the best rosé, without a doubt, hails from Provence in Southern France. Here, the style is inimitable thanks to the region’s perfect Mediterranean climate, distinct minerality derived from the soil, native grape varietals, and traditional winemaking that honors rosé as a style and not just an afterthought of red wine production. Richard Betts comments on the production of rosé: “There are at least two ways that rosé is made and we think one of them is infinitely better…It’s not about stealing some juice from a red wine in process to make what’s left darker; it’s about saying hey, we’re going all in with this and we’re going to completely press these red grapes—their skins, seeds and some of the stems too—in an effort to extract a complete picture.”

Richard Betts was wine director at the famed Little Nell in Aspen from 2000-2008 and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Masters Exam on his first attempt. Since then, Richard has paired his exquisite palate with some of the greatest winemaking talent in the world. His 2015 My Essential Rosé is made in the classic French style by some of the most esteemed craftsmen in Provence. For this rosé, the red grapes are harvested for the production of pure rosé wine. Conversely, this is NOT the saignée method, which involves bleeding off some of from the juice from red wine grapes to make an over-ripe byproduct of red wine that is then labeled as rosé. Real rosé, like the 2015 My Essential Rosé, is crafted with 100% red grapes that are harvested somewhat early then lightly pressed. Richard’s 2015 bottling is one of the most classic Provence rosés you will find at this price point. 

This 2015 Rosé has a beautiful, concentrated light salmon pink core that is classic to Provence. Pure, fresh aromas of strawberry, melon peel, watermelon, tangerine, orange peel with a touch of grapefruit and lemon peel intertwine with rose petals and flowers that leap from the glass. The palate is medium-plus in body and simultaneously rich yet delicate with fresh flavors reminiscent of the nose, with soft, silky notes of peach, melon, strawberry and citrus peel, alongside distinct minerality that drives the thirst-quenching finish. With a silky mouthfeel, perfect freshness and a slight roundness to the fruit, this beauty is a touch richer than more angular styles of Provence rosé. If you’re spending the day poolside, be prepared to have a few bottles cold and ready. A bottle between four will evaporate in minutes, so have your refrigerator stocked. To serve, simply pull from the refrigerator and pour into all-purpose stems, larger stems work well also. Ideal service temperature is about 45F-50F. This classic expression shines with just about anything you throw in its direction, but to steer you in the right direction, serve with this grilled whole salmon with fresh fennel and lemon.
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Country
France
Region
Provence
Sub-Region
FranceCôtes de Provence
Soil
Various
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah
Alcohol
12.5
OAK
None

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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