With fall here and a chill in the air I start to think of Rosé a little differently. In the warmer months I think of how thirst quenching it can be; not to mention its crowd pleasing ability. This time of the year my thoughts veer towards the flexibility and adaptability that good Rosé shows off with a variety of foods. Thanksgiving, which is perhaps the most American of Holidays, is a perfect time to pull out Rosé. The typical Thanksgiving table is loaded with a variety of flavors, a challenge to pair wines with, but just the job Rosé was created to conquer. Today I’ll look at one from the Loire Valley that I strongly recommend considering for your holiday table.
Attitude by Pascal Jolivet 2009 Rosé was produced from fruit sourced in the Loire Valley. This offering is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon. This offering was produced using a combination of press juice and some obtained using the saignée method. This 2009 Rosé has a suggested retail price of $16.
I was immediately struck by the color of this Rosé; its classic pink hue is tinged with a touch or orange. Aromas of wild strawberry and vibrant red raspberry fill the seductive nose of this wine. Red fruit characteristics continue through the palate where they’re joined by elements of citrus. Ruby grapefruit notes in particular make their presence known. White pepper and sour red fruit along with additional citrus are all part of the finish. Solid acidity keeps things nicely balanced. This is a wine that is going to make you want to keep going back to the glass for sip after sip.
This wine is textbook Rosé. It’s light and refreshing, a natural for food and is sure to please a wide array of taste buds. This is an excellent choice for a holiday meal loaded with diverse flavors. At $16, less if you shop around, it’s easy on your wallet too.