Wine Quickie: Château Minuty "M" Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018

This is a limited edition bottle designed by English artist and designer Ruby Taylor! I once was told that Minuty is the top selling Rosé in France, but it was also a sales rep who told me that so he could have been blowing smoke. It's a good one, though, and I would divert people away from those other top selling popular Rosé's to Minuty any day.  Made from 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. It's light but juicy and very floral with a nice minerality, grapefruit, raspberry, and strawberries. Minuty is fun and refreshing and absolutely crushable.

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Wine Quickie: Mas de Cadenet l'Echappée Belle Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018

I really liked this Rosé and my wife liked it even more! It's got a zippy and refreshing personality that just makes me smile. On the nose there's rose petals, grapefruit skin, and Fruity Pebbles; while on the palate there's strawberries, citrus, and peach. The bright acidity gives this fruit-forward rosé a big uplift into happiness, and the long-lasting finish is wonderful. Thumbs up from this guy (and his lady)!

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Wine Quickie: Roseline Prestige Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018

This is 40% Cinsault, 40 % Grenache, and 20% Syrah, with a coppery pink color. It's an uncomplicated but nice and enjoyable rosé with lime, strawberries, pepper, and a little mint. I really, really like it and it's actually pretty hard not to drink it too fast. It's also pairing well with this herb & garlic cheddar that I'm stuffing my face with. Good stuff, man.

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Wine Quickie: Hecht & Bannier Côtes de Provence Rosè 2018

This rosè is 45% Cinsault, 45% Grenache, and 10% Vermentino (WTF???). Although it's got a nice nose of raspberry seltzer, lemon, and roses, it kind of falls apart for me on the palate. It's rich with an unbalanced acidity and an unflattering and awkward flavor profile of tart grapefruit, bitter orange, and sweet pear juice. It's well received from other reviewers all across the board, so maybe you'll like it. But it ain't my thing, man.

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June Wine Pick: AIX Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé 2018

Here we go! It's finally June! I don't have a long read article planned for this month because I'll be doing a ton of learnin' about Saké. But here's what I have penciled in right now: Wine Bloggers Off-Topic returns for a second installment (email me at joeycasco80@gmail.com if you want to participate) and Tippsy Saké returns to the blog with a very special Facebook promo. There will be full rated reviews on four French wines (this Provence Rosé, a rather Pinot Noir from Beaujolais, a white Burgundy, a CDR, and a Bordeaux), four Israeli wines, and two from Hazelfern Cellars out of Oregon. The quickies that are scheduled right now include another Rosé, Red Barn canned Sangria, and Tio Pepe Sherry. And, of course, things will be added as we move along. It looks like we're in for another great month on TheWineStalker.net!

And because we're finally here in lovely June, my wine pick of the month is the refreshing 2018 Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé, which is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. If you want some good "HEY! We made it out of the depressing cold and rainy times!" celebration wine then this is it!

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April Wine Pick: 90+ Cellars Languedoc AOC Rosé 2017

I bet you thought that Languedoc-Roussillon Month was over! Well, APRIL FOOLS!!! It's been extended one more day for my April Wine Pick of the Month!

90+ Cellars (click here to learn more about them) has had a nice string of excellent Rosé’s the past several years and this follows right through with the pedigree. Their 2017 Lot 33 Languedoc Rosé is a blend of local favorites Syrah, Grenache, Mourvédre, and Cinsault; all from the foothills of the Cevennes mountain range where the breeze from the mountains cools the vineyards and keeps them dry.

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Wine Review: Nederburg The Motorcycle Marvel 2013

You may have heard of Nederburg. They're only the most famous and most awarded South African winery on the planet. It got its name in 1791 from German immigrant Philippus Wolvaart, who named his wine farm after Commissioner-General Sebastian Nederburg. I just call the winery Nedes. We're buds. Alright, they have no idea who I am. But I like to pretend.

This particular wine of theirs gives homage to their former cellarmaster from 1956 to 1989; Günter Brözel. This guy built Nederburg's reputation, and his favorite form of transportation was via motorcycle. He also was the first to make noble late harvest wine in South Africa, which he called Edelkeur. Current cellarmaster Razvan Macici, an award-winning cellarmaster himself, draws inspiration and drive from Brözel's legacy. Wilhem Pienaar is the current winemaker.

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May Wine Pick: Domaine de Chantepierre Tavel 2014

This WINE PICK of the month was written for the Luke's of Cape Cod website.

Right across France's Rhone River from Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the commune of Tavel. All the wine that bares its name is rosé. And rosé is the ultimate wine of spring.

Domaine de Chantepierre has remained in the same family for 500 years and all of their wines revolve around southern Rhone Valley's beloved Grenache grape. This Tavel uses 50% Grenache with other red grapes Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, and white grapes Clairette, Picpoul and Bourboulenc. It also features the three soil types of Tavel.

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Wine Review: Domaine La Tour Boisee 2013 Plantation 1905

Minervois. It reminds of the Deftones' song Minerva. But rather than being a Roman Goddess or a rockin' tune, it's a rockin' AOC in southern France's Languedoc-Roussillon.

The cool thing about Languedoc-Roussillon is that it's kinda the wild west south of France. Sure, there's rules and regulations but they're less like what you see from the Old World and more like the New World. Experimentations in viticulture and winemaking are welcome. The wines are focused on now and the future and not gated by conservation of the past. Languedoc-Roussillon is a pretty exciting place.

Although all sorts of vines are grown and all sorts of wines are produced there, Languedoc-Roussillon does have its traditional grapes. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre is a common blend. The subregion of Minervois is particularly fond of Carignan.

Domaine La Tour Boisee's Plantation 1905 is a blend of 23 different unnamed "traditional grape varieties of the Minervois AOC", all from just one vineyard originally planted in 1905. Twenty-mother-effing-three varieties. Yowza.

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Wine Review: Charles & Charles 2013 Rosé

I'm not just a complete sucker for port-like fortified wine; I'm also a sucker for rosé. Of course I've had rosé that weren't as good as others but I've never had one I didn't like. There's just something about rosé that's got me. So it's about time I reviewed one, huh?

Charles Smith is one of the more fascinating winemakers in the world today. He's got long, blonde frizzy hair that will remind you of both Sammy Hagar and Sideshow Bob at once. The guy came from Sacremento, California and worked in restaurants until he moved to Denmark to manage bands during the '90's. He came back to the USA in 1999 and found himself in Washington State. His love of wine from his restaurant days was reignited while passing through Wall Walla and soon he was buying grapes and delivering his wine to retailers in a van that wasn't suitable for driving to his own mailbox. Now he's a rock star in winemaking and completely down to earth when it comes to marketing, labeling and pricing of his wine.

Charles Smith makes highly acclaimed high-end wine under his K label, and his Charles & Charles label has wines that far exceed their inexpensive price point. The Velvet Devil Merlot is tasty as hell (get it?) and the Post 35 Red Blend is RIDICULOUS for $11. But I have to admit as a Riesling lover, even though it was one of the Top 100 Wines of 2014 by Wine Spectator, I'm not a fan of Kung Fu Girl Riesling. Ah well, to each his own.

I'm about to see how I feel about the Charles & Charles 2013 Rosé.

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Wine Review: Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2012 Red Blend

Franschhoek, where this wine is from, is Dutch for "French Corner" and it's located in the southwest of South Africa. It was settled by French Huguenot immigrants in 1688 and since then viticulture and winemaking has been an important part of their culture. Now it's known as "the food and wine capital" of the country.

Boekenhoutskloof Winery was founded in 1776, the same year the United States claimed independence. It was bought and renovated by the current ownership in 1993, the same year Jurassic Park and Mrs. Doubtfire were released. Coincidence? That's for you to decide.

The name Boekenhoutskloof means "ravine of Book-n-howed", Boekenhout being a native tree popular for making furniture. They produce the very popular Wolftrap wines and the highly acclaimed Chocolate Block.

The last time I had Chocolate Block must have been five years ago and I believe it was the 2006 vintage. I thought it was just the bomb-diggity. Well, my wine knowledge has kinda improved just a tad since then and I recently acquired a bottle of the 2012 through the kindness of a good friend's heart. Time to check this bitch out.

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