Rose-a-Day! (Maugeri Etna Rosato)

With the sun shining and the cellar bursting with fresh off the boat 2025 roses' along with some past vintage offerings.. I decided it would be apt to till up the blogs content and plant some rose' reviews as I sip through delightful options from around the globe! 

First up and fresh on my mind from a recent tasting with importer Oliver McCrum comes...

MAUGERI CONTRADA VOLPARE DOC

ETNA ROSATO 2023

THE FACTS:

This rose wine consist of 100% Nerello Mascalese, hand harvested from the eastern facing, lava rich slopes of Milo on Mount Etna in Italy. The grapes are then rested and chilled before a whole cluster pressing then fermented and rested in tonneaux (large used wine casks) before being bottled the following spring.

MY THOUGHTS:

Aromas are a touch subdued but prevalent like a morning dew as long as you are willing to get your feet wet. Watermelon rind, tomato leaf, citrus oils, rosehips, tarragon, rainier cherry and lavender all emanate from the glass with a rustic black lava sand minerality swirling through the nose luring you into a volcanic setting.

The palate follows the noses complexity but you are also greeted by a pronounced berry playfulness that is both alluring and harmonizing with the more esoteric etna-esquness of the wines sense of place. Golden rapberry, wild strawberry and even a touch of plush mango presents itself on the journey through the complex minerality and unique herbaceousness creating harmonizing trifecta of pleasure and intrigue.

(FINAL SCORE: 90/100pts)

Overall this wine is stunning and a great high end rose' offering for those who like to step out of the traditional places we typically reach for when grabbing a world class rose'. Though I should say that this wine isn't mass produced, in fact I believe the typical annual release usually comes to a total of 1,600 bottles per year. So if you find a bottle consider yourself one of the lucky ones!

Sunshine from Bandol

Its been a hot summer, not complaining just making the observation. With heat comes the need for thirst quenching wines. Albarino, Sauvignon Blancs, Roses and cool weather whites from Germany and Austria have been my preference outside of the ongoing Loire Project.

It was on one of these hot sunny days that I convened with a couple fellow foragers to share and compare a slew of wines from around the globe and I decided to reach into my rose cellar and pull a few of my higher end offerings from Bandol, France to kick off the afternoon.

the Wines

Domaine de Terrebrune Rose Bandol 2024

Chateau Ste Anne Rose Bandol 2023 

My Thoughts...

Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol 2024 (92pts)

Pours a blushing coral with soft rusty oxide reflections.

Aromas of cantaloupe, watermelon, golden raspberry, macerated strawberries, sweet tangelo orange and soft floral & herbal accents emerge on the deep inhale with notes of sage, lavender, elderflower, sweet annie and crushed seashells.

The palate is vibrant and persistent with great structure and harmony of fruit, acidity and ethereal summer ocean breezes.

White peach, cantaloupe, wild strawberry, lemon peel, sage and lavender dance along the palate with a kiss of ripe pomegranate shining through on the finish. 

Elegant movement of ripe fruit, soft herbaceousness and refreshing acidity.

Chateau Ste Anne Bandol 2023 (90pts)

Pours a dusty rose color with reflections of pink antiquity and orange sienna.

Aromas are crushed dried potpourri accentuated by candied citrus, melon rind, wild strawberry, cripps pink apples and faint herbal nuances of lemon balm and lavender.

Palate follows the nose nicely with elegance, vibrancy and finesse from start to finish. 

Delicate layers transition from slightly bitter floral to unripe stonefruit, citrus peel, and melon rind all wrapped into a warm summer breeze wafting through the classic provencal herbs of savory, lemon thyme, sage and lavender.

Tuned up acidity drives the flavors into a lengthy finish that adds a bit of that bitter floral note.

Mouthwatering, focused rose from start to finish.

Cheers to the waning days of summer in Maine!

Stop and Blind the Rosés.

As the spring weather transitions into summer, the new vintages of 2024 rosés are blossoming into my glass and out of the garden. Seemed like an apt time to open a trio of this years German offerings from some of my favorite producers! 

the Line Up

Seehof Pinot Noir Rosé 

Von Winning Pinot Noir Rosé 

Kruger Rumpf Pinot Noir Rosé 

(all 2024 vintage)

My Thoughts and the Results...

VON WINNING PINOT NOIR ROSE (90pts)

Aromas of spicy berry, deep floral essence, watermelon, summer berry, citrus blossom and a touch peppery arugula or wrinkled cress.

Palate has a juicy summer berry backbone with glimpses of herbal and citrus glimpses as the flavors evolve in the glass.Watermelon rind, citrus oils, unripe peach, sage, honeysuckle, tart golden raspeberry.

Lengthy evolving palate with all the hallmarks of a delicious pinot based rosé. Focused acidity, layered summer fruits and a delicate persistent finish.

KRUGER RUMPF PINOT NOIR ROSE (88pts)

Touch of gassy bubble on the pour. Aromas are white tea, orange blossoms, wildflower honey, raspberry leaf and earthy cherry pits and some wet slate.

Palate is soft and supple on the front end with notes of cantaloupe, wild strawberry, orange pith and sage. Touch of prickle on the tongue that livens the front end and refreshing acidity that draws out the finish nicely with lingering stonefruit, sage and lingering minerality that weaves through the bitter melon rind finish.

SEEHOF PINOT NOIR ROSE (87pts)

Inviting aromas of citrus oils, wild strawberry, green rhubarb and white flowers.

Palate follows the nose nicely with focused summer berry fruit that evokes nuances of smarties candy, cherry skins, earthy blueberry, elderflowers, flowering thyme, nectarine that all harmonize in a cohesive easy drinking with nice structure, refreshing acidity and lingering herbal accents.

A pleasure to sip each and everyone over a couple days and honestly, I would highly recommend trying them all. Also, yes summer and rosé go hand and hand, but please do not put them away like your white pants when labor day rolls around. Rosé is great year round and it is such a versatile wine that bridges the red/white divide and accompanies food and conversation with the best of them! 

Happy Summer 2025... stay tuned for more as we explore, forage, sip and share!