Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  3/12/2008 (link)

  (MARGUI Rosé) 2007 Rose’ Dear Friends, Like Champagne, I make it a personal quest to reach out to the hands of the unknown with one of Europe’s more misunderstood vinous concoctions - rose’. Rose’ is a wine so overlooked by US consumers that many of the top producers in Provence and elsewhere ignore our market in favor of closer, more receptive environs. Some of this makes sense - it takes time to ship wine to the US and time is not on rose’s side. Many can age, but most are best one year after the harvest (i.e, the 2007 is best in the summer of 2008). While this is somewhat of an old-school philosophy, there are vintners trying to challenge that notion producing artisanal rose’ that has far more stuffing than their forefathers light-bodied veranda sipper. Two of the new-school are below - both are from the 2007 harvest and we will have them in our warehouse as fresh and as fast as we can muster. Both are well worth your time and investment. Whether you purchase from us or not, I urge you to make it a point this summer to sample more rose’ - from the piquant and poignant examples from the northern reaches of Europe to the broader, more viscous examples in the south - all of us should make it a summer exercise to sample more of this pink liquid as the discovery can bring rewards that last: 2007 Chateau Margui Rose’ Coteaux Varois en Provence EXTREMELY LIMITED - VERY RARE Surprise! Margui not only produces one of the finest red wines in the south they also produce award winning rose’ and white wine (more on the white wine another time). This 2007 has loads of character and it is an obvious labor of love for Philippe. Contrary to what many may think, Rose’ is the most famous wine from Provenance (not the reds) and the top houses treat their rose’ like they would a grand cru so it is not surprising that Margui’s example is actually MORE expensive than their red. This example is pressed from Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon - it is treated with kid gloves and a delicate hand but the result is still broad shouldered and viscous with buried acids that make it nearly an ideal version of Varois Rose’. Phillipe’s assessment of the 2007: “Showing a pale salmon colour, it will be at its best for the next 18 to 24 months along with grilled meats, as a very original aperitif, or perfect alongside an Asian cuisine. The nose offers unusual garrigue scents of citrus, thyme and hawthorn blossom mixed with hints of tea, and then come a rich mouth and long fruity finish”. Expect high praise when the reviews hit. 2007 Valle Reale Montepulciano Cerasuolo (Rose’) STRICT LIMIT 12/person With the Euro approaching 1.60 this morning, I had to dig in deep to offer this at less than $12 but here goes. Last year Antonio Galloni sung the praise of the 2006 version of this wine with one of the highest scores of the year for an Italian rose’....wait until he tries the 2007. A terrific value priced right for easy-going enjoyment. An unusual and interesting example that will please a wide variety of palates. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Please give us your maximum number of each and we will allocate accordingly Both will arrive in late spring - in time for summer imbibement (but they should last well into 2009 as well). Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA SOFR6811 Italy5540