Denise Medrano (aka The Winesleuth) is a London based wineblogger originally from California.
Read more about Denise Medrano and see other articles by this author.
I often turn to rosés when I want a fail-safe wine. I should mention that I turn to dry rosés; I’m not a big fan of sweet or off-dry rosés such as Blossom Hill or Gallo. I know that many people enjoy those sweetish wines but for me their saccharine flavours and candyish finishes just don’t do it for me.
Where do those dry rosés come from? France is probably the most well known place, their Provencal rosés being a perennial favourite of anyone who has ever visited the southern part of France. But don’t overlook Spain. Spanish rosés are some of the loveliest around, crisp and dry, often much darker in colour then their French counterparts.
I was in Hyde Park on a hot summer afternoon to meet some friends for an impromptu Friday afternoon picnic. Someone brought sushi and I brought the Buil & Giné 2008 Rosat, a Spanish rosé from the Priorat region in Catalonia. Priorat is one of only 3 DOCas in Spain, the others being Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The wines of Priorat are big and powerful, and can be composed of Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. The main grape used is Garnacha and the Giné Rosat was made up of primarily Garnacha with a bit of Merlot thrown in to soften it up.
A great companion to the sushi, it cut right through the fatty tuna and buttery salmon rolls. Quite dark in colour, it could have been a young Beaujolais; it was far more red then rosé but the Spanish consider it a rosé, and so did we. Fresh, bright nose with plenty of strawberries, raspberries and a whiff of slate, which comes from the terroir of the region. Rolling it around my mouth, it was quite full and fleshy with more of those fantastic red fruits taking centre stage and and a crispiness and acidity that cleared my palate and swept away the oiliness of the sushi as well as standing up to all that wasabi and soy sauce. It takes quite a wine to be able to stand up to those two wine killers but the Giné was a star!
We all really enjoyed this wine and it was finished off all too quickly amongst the four of us. The Giné Rosat is available from FindWineUK online and can be found in independent wine shops in the UK. If you’re looking for a crisp, dry, full bodied rosé, look no further.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I couldn’t agree more about the likes of Blossom Hill being over sweet. Especially when eating. You’ll struggle to find a restaurant in the Priorat without seeing people drinking a chilled red or rosat with their menu del dia.
I like my sweet wines but only with dessert or a demi-sec champagne in a pinch
I hope that rose, especially Spanish and French, continue to make inroads into the UK market, not only in the summer time but all year round. Thanks for stopping by!