In some areas of the world, summer is here. In others, cooler months continue. Despite the weather predictions, there is one wine drinking trend that people around the world continue to embrace during any season – rosé wine. Now accepted as a drink-any-season wine, we thought it was time to take a closer look at the shades of rosé, their luscious spectrum of pink colors and their flavor range. Color aside, the selection of newly released 2021 rosés we reviewed for this article are ready to drink and are produced from a diverse selection of grape varieties, styles and terroirs.
1. Bertani Bertarosé 2021
Bertani has been producing wines since the 1930s in an excellent microclimate in the inland hills of Lake Garda, one of the larger lakes in northern Italy. Together with its impeccable blending skills of different grapes and supervision in the vineyard, Bertani produces a fresh and well-balanced rosé. Fruit-forward, crisp with good structure and vibrant acidity, the wine, made with Valpolicella grapes, reflects the soil and climate of inland hills of Lake Garda and releases aromas of berries and spices.
2. Saget La Perrière “La Petite Perrière” Rosé 2021
Generations of the Saget family have worked together, from 1790, to create their signature Saget La Perrière wines which reflect balance and a blend of richness and elegance using a meticulous selection of grapes and winemaking. This rosé was made with Pinot Noir grapes, a fragile and demanding grape, but resulting in rosé wines of great finesse. This uncommon rosé is best drunk young with notes of sour cherry, raspberry, gooseberry, hints of spice. La Petite Perrière’s Pinot Noir is largely sourced from the estate’s vineyards in Touraine (Loire Valley) and a part of the blend is sourced from the South of France through long term partners.
3. Côté Mas Aurore Rosé 2021
The vineyards of Côté Mas are situated along the southern coast of France, in the Languedoc appellation where the warmth of the Mediterranean climate, with the breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, create wines of considerable finesse. Côté Mas Aurore Rosé captures the essence of the region, a rich yet smooth palate full of fresh red fruits. Each grape variety is vinified separately and gentle pressing, using a pneumatic press, releases the juice. The wine is aged on its lees with regular stirring for 40 days in newly coated cement vats which obtains maximum fruit flavor intensity while preserving natural acidity and aroma. The playful labels of rustic picnic scenes embody Jean-Claude Mas’ philosophy of rural luxury. Cheers!
4. Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé 2021
This rosé, according to its producers, is a result of innovation, passion and dedication to winemaking. Stony, limestone vineyards nestled in the hills above the bay of Marseille near Provence produce a rosé wine with a rose petal color to drink on crisp, cool evenings. A devotee of the Syrah grape and armed with a pharmacy degree, Jean-Luc and his wife, Anne, opened their wine “laboratory” in 1984, “Centre Oenologique des Côtes du Rhône” and both were awarded the French Legion of Honor. Made using the traditional saignée method with fermentation at a low temperature, the wine is then bottled quickly to preserve its freshness and fruit. The nose is floral, with aromas of fresh peaches and fennel with a crisp citrus finish.
5. Saracina Rosé of Grenache 2021
Saracina is not only a 400-acre ranch, but also a winery and sustainably farmed vineyard, home to 140-year-old olive trees, vegetable gardens, beehives, alpacas and wild boar. Saracina, purchased in 2018 by Marc Taub, owner of Taub Family Selections, expresses the spirit of family ownership. Hand harvested grenache grapes, grown along the Russian River in a classic gravel and alluvial soil, are used in this exciting new Rosé of Grenache with light red berry notes, clean and crisp finish.
6. Planeta Rosé 2021
Planeta encompasses six distinct wine estates in five regions across Sicily, from the sea to the hills: Ulmo at Sambuca di Sicilia, Dispensa at Menfi, Dorilli at Vittoria, Buonivini at Noto, Sciara Nuova on Etna at Castiglione di Sicilia, and the newest addition, La Baronia at Capo Milazzo. Each vineyard site is carefully cultivated with grapes that best compliment the local terroir. Planeta’s journey began at Sambuca di Sicilia, on the estate owned by the family since 1600s. Here, three enthusiastic young Sicilians, Alessio, Francesca and Santi Planeta, under the guidance of Diego Planeta, began their winemaking venture in the mid-1980s. The delicate color of this rosé, with floral notes such as hibiscus and rose hip, strawberries, blackberries and honeydew melon, produce a lively and fresh wine with a hint of peach.
A Planeta vineyard
To truly enjoy a glass of rosé, we encourage you to chill a bottle and open it. Some of you may be already sitting on a terrace in the Côte d'Azur. Cheers!
In addition to a career in communications and marketing focused on the luxury lifestyle sector, including co-authoring and lecturing a case study on French heritage jeweler Mauboussin with Harvard Business School, Isabelle continues to share her experiences about fine art, wine, travel, jewelry and culture as a freelance writer for internationally based digital publications.
