Winterpink
The folks at Terre Rouge suggest their Vin Gris d'Amador be enjoyed as follows:
"It is the perfect wine for a hot summer afternoon on the patio or at your favorite bistro. In France it is practically a sacrilege to not be drinking a glass of rosé with your lunch at the cafe..."
Hmm. Well, it's the middle of the winter, drizzling outside like a scene out of Blade Runner. Not to mention the fact that I have no patio, it's after lunch and I'm certainly not in France (alas). Of course, suggestions, are just that - suggestions. I hereby ignore said suggestion and stick this bottle of lovely cherry-red, rosé wine into the fridge for a 12 minute cool-out.
As the wine chills I proceed to construct a Dagwood steak sammy out of leftovers: prime rib in foil, a 1/2-eaten baguette and some spare cheese hiding out behind the margarine tub. Now, with the assistance of an old timey panini press, I simulataneously, warm, toast and melt. Voila. Cheesy-meaty-toasty goodness.
I pop open the Vin Gris and discover that it hits the spot as a sidekick to my simple sandwich. However, this wine really starts to shine once it's warmed up a bit and I've finished (read: scarfed) the sandwich.
The SkinnyTerre Rouge Vin Gris d'Amador 2003 ($10-$13)
- 54% Mourvèdre, 42% Grenache and 4% Syrah from California's Sierra Foothills
- Not your typical pink wine - this wine possesses a great deep cherry-red color with copper undertones
- Allow Terre Rouge to warm up a bit before you start sipping. Your nose will thank you. There are rich, yet restrained scents of vanilla-spice and red raspberry. However, a most unique aroma piqued my interest in this wine. It seems to offer up a little Pinot Noir-like mushroomy funk mixed with some of the 'meaty' character for which Mourvèdre is famous. Yum
- In the mouth the wine feels fairly full-bodied. There are subtle tannins as well as a surprisingly evolved combination of flavors. It's a bit more complex than your typical 'sippin rosé'
Give it a try. Who cares if it's February or March or...
Tagged with: wine + california wine + rose wine
bill easton is a dude and one of my favorite cali winemakers...I will have to try the rose.
Bill
Posted by: bill | 02 February 2006 at 11:25 AM
I had just been thinking of rose, with the approaching pink holiday. I thought it would be a good suggestion for a little something different to use for a V-day celebration - or lack thereof. I tend to think of rose as a spring/summer wine, too. However, it could be like taking a vacation to a warmer place just by opening a bottle! I could definitely use a trip to a warmer, drier place about now...
~ B
Posted by: Culinary Fool | 02 February 2006 at 04:20 PM
B - I always found it interesting that rose is relagated to warm, mediterranean-like scenes. Why? Do people only drink gnarly reds in winter. Pfft. Hardly - I drink white and bubbly during the winter months; so why not a little pink? Let me know if you come up with a nice rose for V-day.
Posted by: beau | 03 February 2006 at 03:54 PM