Rose Season – Our Favorite Bottles For 2011

Summer is the season for rose.  Of course, you can drink it all year round, but it’s the perfect match for oysters, lobster rolls, summery salads and even a burger off the grill.  Nowadays, winemakers make rose from all types of grapes in all different varieties — from earthy and aged to light and bubbly.  Together with Brian Quinn, co-founder of the traveling wine saloon The Noble Rot, we’ve picked a few bottles of rose we’re excited about from as close as the North  Fork of Long Island or Napa Valley to Spain, France, and Italy.

Bedell Cellars 2010 Taste Rosé
This vineyard produces lots of great wines, but we’re particularly charmed by Bedell’s 2010 rose, which happens to taste as good as it looks.  The label on the bottle is a commissioned photo of a Marilyn Monroe-look alike with the word “Taste” between her lips.  It’s also natural and sustainable. It’s a complex rose with a blend of lots of grapes with hints of blackberries and cherries, so it pairs well with summer fruit and fruit tarts.
For Purchase: www.bedellcellars.com


Schramsberg Vineyard Brut Rosé
Grown and produced, in Schramsberg Vineyard produces some of the finest bubbly in the America, including this brut rosé. The word brut indicates that it’s a dry wine, but by no means is this rosé lip-lickingly bone dry.  It just doesn’t contain a lot of sugar (less then 12 grams per liter), which is great for drinkers who prefer bolder, drier wines.  If you’re eating pasta tossed with vegetables or pizza, this is your guy.
For Purchase: Morrell and Company, 1 Rockefeller Plaza 800-969-4536, www.morrellwine.com

2010 La Croix du Prieur Rosé
The southern region of Provence is the leading producer of rosé wines and this bottle reminds you why the terroir is so ideal for it.  Balanced and elegant, it’s not too sweet or dry.  La Croix du Prieur exudes character and aromas, like lemon, strawberry and lychee and a subtle hint of banana to the taste.  While banana many sounds off-putting, it’s intriguing and highly drinkable.
For Purchase: Chelsea Wine Vault, 75 Ninth Ave., (212)462-4244, www.chelseawinevault.com

Viña Tondonia Rosado, Lopez de Heredia
This Spanish rose looks more orange than pink.  While it’s typically drunk young, this unique vintage has been aged ten years, which lends it more body and makes for a much more complex rose. Take a deep inhale and you might stumble upon traces of orange, cinnamon, and even tobacco. It’s an exotic and spicy mouthful with layers of apricot, butterscotch and pomegranate. Best on it’s own or as an after-dinner sipper, it’s a wine worth seeking out and even tucking away into your cellar.
For Purchase: Astor Wines and Spirits, 399 Lafayette St., (212)674-7500, www.astorwines.com

Pasanella & Figlio Rosato
South Street Seaport’s resident wine shop, Pasanella and Sons, carries a terrific line of “house wines” and their most recent addition is a rosé.  It’s organic and it’s only 11 dollars a bottle, so it’s great for entertaining or even a hostess gift.   Bright and minerally, it goes with everything, especially grilled vegetables.
For Purchase: Pasanella and Son Vintners, 115 South St., (212)233-8383, www.pasanellaandson.com

Voga Italia
The beautiful bottle is the first thing that caught our eye.  Still, we’re much more concerned with taste and Voga Italia’s rosé is juicy and rich with a super smooth finish. It’s an incredibly easy drinking wine that goes well with creamy desserts like vanilla ice cream or panna cotta. Check it out at the Hudson Hotel, where it’s a popular choice on the wine list.
For Purchase: Bottle and Soul, 1200 Lexington Ave., (212)628-0100, www.vogaitalia.com

RG Writer: Lauren Bloomberg