Summer Wine Series
July 16th thru  July 20th

-Rosé-

1st pairing - Château Roqueforte. Côtes de Provence, France. -“Corail”- 2006

Paired with Eggplant Caponata

Grapes: 40% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 20% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Clairette.

Tasting notes: Simply wonderful!  Light coral color, notes of wild strawberry and berry fruit, slightly herbal, lively and balanced, possessing a good palate-whetting acidity.

Points of interest: Located on the edge of the Bandol appellation, this estate it is nestled into a natural amphitheater creating a unique microclimate all unto itself. Raimond de Villeneuve, proprietor, returned to his family's small estate in 1995 and began to convert it over to biodynamic viniculture. The estate is only 50 hectares with at an altitude of 1000 feet, with one third of the vines being over 40 years old and the rest ranging between 15 and 40. 
Michel Bettane calls him one of the finest winemakers in Provence:
"Incontestably, one of the great hopes of the Cotes de Provence...the wines perfectly combine ample and intense fruit with a rich and silky body. The wines of Roquefort possess a hedonistic character that will make you immediately rejoice."

2nd Pairing – Jean-Maurice Raffault. Chinon, France. 2006

Paired with Leek and Goat Cheese Tart

Grape: Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes: Light blush and very versatile, bright and lively, light minerality woven with berry fruit, delivers a refreshing, long finish.

Points of interest: the son, Rodolphe, whose family has been vignerons in Chinon since 1693, now runs this famed Chinon estate. The estate consists of 40 hectares spread over 6 collective farms. Chinon is located in the central Loire valley and is the northernmost French red wine appellation. This unique Rose is made by the “saignée method” -A winemaking process involving bleeding off a portion of red wine after only a short period of contact of the juice with the grape skins. Because the color of red wine is derived from pigments in the skins, the juice is only pink not red.”

3rd Pairing - SolaRosa. Sonoma County, CA. -“California Rosé”-2006

 Paired with Olive Oil Poached Salmon with Lovage Purée

Grapes: 50% Sangiovese; 50% Merlot.

Tasting Notes: Pale - orange-pink color, with notes of cherry, raspberry and grapefruit,
fresh and zesty, balanced, with a rounded mouth-feel, yet dry

Points of interest: Yes, it is true a Californian rosé that is well crafted! The “only pink” label is a collaboration of two friends, Jeff Morgan and Daniel Moore. Their winery is the “only in the New World devoted exclusively rosé”.  Morgan, who is a wine writer and Moore who has been winemaker for 20-plus years in Northern CA., source fruit from two vineyards - Atlas Peak  in Napa Valley and Levantini in Lodi.  After fermentation the wine is aged for five months in
2- to 4-year-old French oak barrels.  Less than 3,000 cases were made in 2006.