WTN: WORLD'S BEST ROSE? Bruno Clair Marsannay Rose 2005

I wait in anticipation for this wine every year. It may be the world’s most perfect rosé. The color is mesmerizing -like staring into a ruby. The fruit, though dry, is like strawberry pie, watermelon (You know, the tart meat next to the rind and craisins -and maybe a little nutmeg. The texture is full but it tapers off into acid and tannins so smoothly you can hardly see it coming. It is sooo damn pretty and serious at the same time. This is better than the 2004, which was amazing. AND, it’ll get better over the next year or two. It's rather rare in the U.S. so get it while you can. 12,5% alc. $25


Prost!
Bill

I love rose. I love rose. I love rose. I love rose. I love rose. Where can I get this? I don't think that I can find it in Austin. Did I mention that I love rose?

Thanks for the tip, Bill. I'm always on the lookout for a good Rose. I've been waiting for a favorite Rhone 2005 to come out -- Joncier. Give it a try if you like a generous Rose.

I just picked up a bottle of Domaine Ott. Good stuff, that is.

i agree it has got to be at least one of the best. another candidate would be Corte Gardoni Bardolino Chiaretto '05 - a kermit lynch wine.

Put a case of 05 Domaine Tempier Rose awhile back into my cellar. It's very nice, plus they usually drink well for a few years time. I'll have to look out for the Bruno Clair, these type of wines sell all year around in SO CA.

I always love it too Bill. Thanks for the note...

All these roses are indeed very good, but the worlds best rose is without a doubt Gran Caus Rosado from Penedes. The vineyard is Can Rafols dels Caus. I know they have a US importer.

Also worth trying is the Smith Haut Lafites rose which is drawn off must from their reds.

For all Rose lovers I would particularly recommend try rosado from Penedes in Spain. It is a great area for rose wines and other producers to recommend that makes great roses are Mas Comtal, Albet i Noya and Pijoan Escofet. Gramona and Jane Venturas rosados are also worth trying.

Best
FredriK Svensson, Luxembourg

I must get my hands on some of this for next summer. If it is better than my memory of Cotat's champagne-like Chavignol rosé from 1996 (also Pinot Noir), it has to be very remarkable.

I also find Château Simone rosé frrom Palette near Aix-en-Provence very classy.

All these roses are indeed very good, but the worlds best rose is without a doubt Gran Caus Rosado from Penedes. The vineyard is Can Rafols dels Caus. I know they have a US importer.

Also worth trying is the Smith Haut Lafites rose which is drawn off must from their reds.

For all Rose lovers I would particularly recommend try rosado from Penedes in Spain. It is a great area for rose wines and other producers to recommend that makes great roses are Mas Comtal, Albet i Noya and Pijoan Escofet. Gramona and Jane Venturas rosados are also worth trying.

Best
FredriK Svensson, Luxembourg

I am going to put a plug in for Artazuri!! Hope to hear from you again Fredrik.

If it is better than my memory of Cotat's champagne-like Chavignol rosé from 1996...

Tim,

I haven't had the '96, but this past summer I drank the 2004. If memory serves: it was almost red (Cotat's brown bottles made for some initial hesitation on my part -It looked like motor oil, not rose ) It was more pomegranate and maraschino cherry and had much of Cotat's signature leesyness (Champagne is right on!). I think I have another bottle. -Will post next week (I sure am drinking a lot of Rose for it being December...).



Prost!
Bill

I find Ott wines very poor value for money (nothing special, and sold at an indecent premium).

My company gift was the contenter (along with Tavel) for the world's best rosé: Rosé des Riceys, a still wine from the southern part of Champagne.

It is more deeply-colored and elegant than Bruno Calir's Marsannay.

It's all a question of style, isn't it?
"The best" is a nearly impossible adjective to use for wines.

Best regards,
Alex R.

I really do like the Clair Marsannay, but actually tend to buy more the Domaine Bart Marsannay rose, maybe a half (quarter?)step behind but usually less than half the price.

Best rose? I'd have to think of either Cotat (either) Sancerre roses or maybe the very idiosyncratic Lopez y H Gravonia.

I tend to like Tempier better than Ott, but find don't offer enough value for my tastes to buy.

But the one rose I've bought multiples of every year- even 2003? Cantalupo's Il Mimo, nebbiolo rose.

rose de ricys is very odd stuff - AND good. the oddest thing is that they refuse to sell it when it is young - seems it must be a minimum of 5 years before they will even release it. never seen one in the US and only in a few places in champagne outside its own out of the way area.

I bought 3 cases of Rosé de Riceys last month from the 2005 vintage.

Best regards,
Alex R.

is it avail in paris? i'd like to taste a young one. my friend who tasted in ricys told me it isn't released that early; and i've never seen one that young for sale in epernay retail stores or restaurants.

Hi,

I can only conclude your friend is mistaken.
If I had a digital camera or a scanner, I'd post you a photo of Les Riceys from Lamoureux I bought from the 2005 vintage....

Furthermore, other than fine Champagne, can there be any rosé that benefits from 5 years or more of bottle age?

Best regards,
Alex R.

Two of my favorite rose wines plus another favorite area have been mentioned. The Bruno Clair Marsannay Rose is one favorite and the Cotat Sancerre roses are another. Also I love a good Tavel rose. (And I've had some Chinon that was pretty good). Interestingly, I meant to take a Bruno Clair Marsannay Rose along to a Christmas party last Saturday. Many of the guests are not really into wine and might prefer a rose to a full-bodied red wine, and I also guessed (correctly) that the appetizers would include ham and other things that go nicely with rose. (I took a cheese ball and crackers--primarily cream cheese with light pepper and other spices and rolled in dill coating). I forgot to take the Bruno Clair but should have gone back home for it. The hosts were serving Franzia from a box so I opted for diet Coke instead of wine.

Also I love a good Tavel rose.

Tavel was my introduction to Rose. I love a good Tavel.

Roses from Lirac are worth looking into as well.

It may be the world’s most perfect rosé.

I resurrected this old thread to thank you for the tip, Bill. I ended up with two cases. We had great weather in the PNW this weekend, and we spent a lot of time working in the yard. There is nothing more refreshing than breaking for a light lunch with a cool glass of this Rose. It is just delicious. I see a few stores still have it for sale if anyone wants to latch on to a terrific Rose.

[James Roscoe]

Which vintage is current Randy?

Which vintage is current Randy?

2005, James.

[James Roscoe]

Thanks Randy. When does the 2006 get released? Is this a rose that needs or could use a little age? (That would be a contrarian rose!)