Here’s a cause for celebration: I’ve just had my first 2007 vintage rosé, as sure a sign as any that summer is on the way. It was the cheap but truly lovely Bieler—once again in fine form—and I drank it with a whole chicken rubbed with herbs and cooked on the grill. Divine!
2007 Bieler Père et Fils Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
Grapes: A blend of 70 percent Grenache, 30 percent Syrah
Aging: 100 percent stainless steel, and not for a long time, either. This is a rosé, after all.
Alcohol: N/A
Price: $11–$12 suggested retail
My Tasting Notes: Just what you’re looking for in a cheap rosé: watermelon and cherry, clean and crisp, and great with strong-flavored foods, especially anything saturated in garlic.
Sounds yummy. I love me some ice-cold rosé in summer. Is this one easily findable?
Should be very widely available. This is not a boutique wine, although it tastes like one. This is the product of an American wine lover–Charles Bieler–who might be fairly be called the Chief Rose Provocateur. Falling utterly for Provencal rose, a while back, he actually bought property in Provence to make this wine himself, and begin marketing it in the US. In fact … I’ll write another entry with more info.
We are wine distributors here in the States and some of our favorites are the 07 Ampelos Rose of Syrah, Renard Rose, and Pax Rose. YUMMY I think we start the night off with a great bottle of Rose about 5 out of 7 nights a week.