Oenologie - Comment choisir un rosé ? - Les Grappes

How to choose a good rosé?

You're lost in front of the huge fuchsia pink aisle of your favorite supermarket, and you don't know which one to choose? Whether you're looking at more or less enticing labels, pale pink, salmon pink or barbie pink bottles, the sheer immensity of the choice available to you is bound to leave you stunned.

That's a pity, so let us give you a few keys to deciphering the nebulous world of rosé to unearth the perfect vintage.

Fifty Shades of Pink - The colors of rosé

First of all, let's dispel the popular notion that a good rosé must be extremely pale, so pale that at first glance it might appear to be water. Color is no guarantee of quality, especially since there are techniques for modifying it during vinification! However, it does provide valuable information about the wine's origin and the processes used to make it.

"A pale rosé is better": false!

A very pale rosé (peach, lychee) is very likely to be a " direct pressing " rosé. In other words, the grapes are pressed directly after being harvested, allowing a slight extraction of the pigments present in the berry skin.

Direct-pressed rosés are light and fresh, with very little tannin. This is the case for most rosés from Provence. They should be consumed fairly quickly : two years maximum. Beyond that, they risk losing their brightness and freshness.

These very light rosés are the perfect accompaniment to aperitifs, fish and seafood. They should be served at around 9-10°C.

When should I buy dark rosés?

A darker rosé (fuchsia, redcurrant) is most likely to be a "saignée" rosé. This method involves macerating the juice for several hours in contact with the berry skins. It is then colored to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the maceration time. These wines are less susceptible to oxidation than rosés made by direct pressing, and therefore have greater ageing potential . You can enjoy rosés de saignée that are three or four years old without too much fear.

These include the generous wines of Tavel , where Grenache dominates, the Bandols , to which Mourvèdre lends structure and spicy notes, and the Bordeaux Clairets, with their red fruit aromas. They are more powerful and aromatic than direct-pressed rosés, and are perfect with barbecues or charcuterie. Serve between 10 and 12°C.

Tips for choosing your bottle of rosé

A rosé for the aperitif

Would you like a fresh, thirst-quenching wine to accompany your aperitif or simply a late afternoon by the pool? Go for a Rosé de Provence: Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence or Coteaux Varois en Provence. And if you prefer a fruitier, more complex wine, go for the Languedoc and opt for a Pic-Saint-Loup rosé.

Is there such a thing as a slightly sweet rosé?

If you're looking for a rosé that's fruity and a little sweet, don't hesitate to opt for a rosé from the Loire Valley such as a Rosé d'Anjou or a Cabernet d'Anjou (really sweet).

A full-bodied, aromatic rosé for dinner?

Would you like a fuller-bodied, more flavorful but dry wine? Go for a Bordeaux Clairet, a Bergerac, a Gaillaca Marsannay, a BandolTavel, or even a Rosé des Riceys, a still wine (without bubbles) from the Champagne appellation.

By the way, did you know that Champagne is the only place in France where rosé can be made by blending white and red wines? Visit Champagne rosé comes from cuvées of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier (red grapes) and Chardonnay (white grapes) vinified separately.

So, whether it's garnet, cherry, raspberry, coral, salmon, lychee... You're bound to find a rosé to your liking!

What's the fruitiest rosé?

Fruit is one of the main characteristics of a rosé's aromatic profile . Generally speaking, all rosés are fruity. There are notes of red fruit, exotic fruit, white fruit and citrus , as well as more floral or spicy notes. More surprisingly, a rosé can also reveal notes of English candy.

So it's hard to confine yourself to a single cuvée. But since it's you, we're willing to reveal a few appellations that are guaranteed to give you a fruity rosé. You won't be disappointed with the following appellations Côtes-du-Rhône (Rhône Valley), Corbières (Languedoc), Rosé de Loire (Loire Valley) and the essential Côtes de Provence.

How can you tell if a rosé wine is sweet?

The first thing to do to tell if a rosé wine is sweet is to look at the label. The label will indicate the sugar content . A rosé said to be sweet must contain more than 4 grams of sugar per liter, below which it will be considered a dry rosé.

What price a good rosé?

There are rosé wines to suit all budgets! Price doesn't always determine content, but you can find some very fine cuvées from 7 euros to 13 euros.

What are the best rosé wines?

To help you choose, here are some of our favorite rosés. They're all little nuggets from Les Grappes !

Château Caminade Haut Guérin Rosé: This cuvée was created in the Graves region of Bordeaux. Blended with a majority of Merlot, this cuvée reveals a pleasant acidity and roundness. On the nose, there are lovely notes of red fruit, with raspberry and strawberry. On the palate, this aromatic intensity is accompanied by a lovely freshness, culminating in a long, fruity finish.

Le clos des sables Rosé : A surprising cuvée that combines tart red fruit and floral aromas. An explosion of flavors for our taste buds, who delight in this generous, full-bodied Touraine cuvée.

Liberty'Nages - Rosé : Under its elegant color, this cuvée reveals a sweet perfume of strawberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant. This rosé has a pleasant, thirst-quenching freshness.

Choose wines from winemakers

At Les Grappeswe've put together a selection of our best winegrower nuggets! Looking for a cuvée to accompany you all summer long? You're bound to find the perfect rosé on Les Grappes!

Discover all our rosés on Les Grappes

Our rosé nuggets

Now that you know everything, it's time to taste! Les Grappes offers you rosé wines from French winegrowers.

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