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Domaine de Blaïs, Côtes de Provence Rosé

Provence, France 2016 (750mL)
$18.00
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Domaine de Blaïs, Côtes de Provence Rosé

As taken as we are with the grandeur of Bandol—both the place and the wines—it’s hardly the only awe-inspiring source of rosé in Provence. Take the Domaine de Blaïs, for instance: It’s a former Roman villa in Provence’s Var region, with vineyards in the limestone foothills of the Massif des Maures, a small mountain range northwest of Saint-Tropez.
Well, slather on some Bain de Soleil and get yourself to the pool or beach with some chilled bottles of Blaïs 2016 Côtes de Provence Rosé. Not only does it come in a pretty package—a slender bottle modeled on the traditional Provençal 'flute à corset' design—it does what we want all the wines we offer here to do: over-deliver at its price. It will compete with much more-expensive Bandol wines and look good doing it, which is all you can ask of any rosé, really. It will make you look good as well, thanks chiefly to what’s inside the bottle; there’s nothing I care about more!
Positioned between the Mediterranean and the southern French Alps, Domaine de Blaïs is headquartered in Vidauban, about an hour east up the coast from Bandol. The winemaking estate was first established in 1922, and has faithfully stuck with the classic Provençal varieties: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and the white Rolle (Vermentino) all factor into this traditional blend, sourced from 15-35-year-old vines on sandy clay and limestone. It is a “direct-press” rosé, as opposed to a by-product of red production, meaning it was harvested specifically for the production of rosé. The wine was fermented in tanks at cool temperatures and bottled just this past February, which of course is how most people prefer their rosés—young and refreshingly alive.

There is a terrific balance of fruity depth and crunchy minerality in this 2016. In the glass it’s a textbook pale salmon-pink with orange and magenta highlights, and the aromatics are the classic mix of wild strawberry, red currant, melon, lavender, orange peel, pink peppercorn and dried roses. There’s nice lushness on the palate, as you might expect from a rosé incorporating Grenache, but it snaps to attention on the finish with crisp acid and mineral savor. What else can I say—this stuff is spot-on and priced for a party! Pop open a bottle and serve it in all-purpose white wine stems at 40-45 degrees, and, as I’ve said before, this’ll pair beautifully with just about anything. Get yourself some good tomatoes, a little saffron, and some light, white-fleshed fish and fire up the attached recipe for Provençal Seafood Bisque. This wine demands that you really get in the spirit. Stock up now, and enjoy!
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Country
France
Region
Provence
Sub-Region
FranceVar
Soil
Limestone
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Rolle
Alcohol
12.5
TEMP.
40-45
Glassware
All-Purpose White
Drinking
Now-2018
Pairing
Provençal Seafood Bisque

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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