First things first, I guess I should apologise for my premature declaration of summers arrival in my last post. Wishful thinking? I recommend revisiting that piece on a sunny day for a little inspiration. What a tease!
I realize I wax on about my love for rosé a lot on this blog, and in life in general as plenty of my friends and co-workers can confirm. But can you blame me? It’s delicious! And food friendly! And delicious! So here I go again. We have a few new arrivals to the rosé list at Provence Marinaside, plus and old favorite that is now available by the glass at Provence Mediterranean!
Let`s start with the bubbly, I adore pink bubbles! However, I can’t always afford Champagne. Luckily France produces plenty of sparkling options that are fantastic at a much more affordable price, and this wine is a great example of that. Lucien Albrecht Crémant D’Alsace Rosé Brut is everything I want from a sparkling rosé! Plenty of ripe berries, fresh brioche and a touch of earthy funk on the nose. The palate is blessed with fine delicate bubbles and bright acidity. Berries and toasty notes dominate with just a touch of licorice tea towards the finish. This wine has been a staple on our list for some time and is now available by the glass at both locations. It is especially charming, I challenge anyone to try it and not fall in love at first sip!
Now on to a couple of fresh finds from France. If you’ve spent any time in Provence you have most likely noticed that everyone there drinks rosé. The supply here in Vancouver can be a little scattered, but most often they arrive in the spring, just in time for summer sipping. Our Sommelier, Rod, has sourced a great example of classic Provencal rosé made in a very clean modern style. The color is a very pretty pale rose petal hue. The nose has hints of candy strawberries (you know those marshmallow ones) and rosewater. The palate is completely dry, with juicy acidity and plenty of fresh strawberry fruit, grapefruit and floral flavors.
As an aside, I strongly recommend checking out Mirabeau’s website. They have a great collection of entertaining and very informative short videos explaining all the things you always wanted to know about wine and how it’s made.
If you head east from Provence, along the coast of the Mediterranean, you’ll end up in the Languedoc, a region producing some of France’s best wine values. L’Orangeraie Pays D’Oc Rosé is no exception. This style is more typical of French rosé than the Mirabeau. Completely dry, with a touch more acidity. The palate has plenty going on, with notes of cherry, peach, citrus, fresh tobacco, and a little rubber eraser on the length. This style is the perfect accompaniment to the bold flavors in our Bouillabaisse.
Speaking of great wine pairings, all of these awesome rosés will be amazing with July’s Chefs Menu! Provence Marinaside is taking advantage of salmon season and featuring appetisers and entrees focusing on this local delicacy. There are a handful of different species of wild pacific salmon available, each subtly different in flavor, texture and color. Chef will be working with three; Pink, Sockeye, and Spring (also known as Chinook or King). Some of the feature dishes even pair two or all three of the varieties in a single dish so you can try them side by side and experience for yourself the subtle differences. I can’t wait to try them all and decide which rosé pairs best with which species! I’ll justify that little indulgence as research, it’ll be our secret.
Cheers!
Rachelle
love ya, glad to have ya, love your taste in wines. Xxoo doug