TN: Music From a not-so Big Pink

2009 Ch. Jean-Pierre Gaussen Bandol Rose, Cote d’Azur, France
Not a masterpiece by any means, but if I can paint a traditional picture of a rose, then this qualifies as a subject. This wine starts out dry, quite smooth, with mineral, white-fruit, and peach. It is savory and has some weight in the mouth-feel, yet remains refreshing. At the finish, gives way to notes of cranberries … and some raspberries. The 13% abv is slightly evident at the finish, just showing slight heat, somewhat like a nice and pleasant mixed cocktail drink. This wine prompted me to compare it with a Gravonia, and, I don’t think I’d ever say this, but, I think that this had a more Old World feel to it than the LdH. Btw, the nose on this shows sulfur and wood, old wood. This style is not for everybody, but I’m a fan. B+

Proof yet again that a "great vintage" is no guarantee of great wine.

Speaking of which:

Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina 2009
Pale costume-jewel pink. Fizzy. Nose of Strawberry Jolly Rancher, with just a hint of sweet herb and maybe white peach. Slightly tart red cherry and lemony citrus on the palate, a bit of a surprise after the confected nose, with lots of mineral character. But not enough to rescue this from mediocrity. Grossly overpriced at $17.99.

Proof yet again that a "great vintage" is no guarantee of great wine.

It is often true that great red vintages produce poor Rose. Of course, poor red vintages produce poor Rose too. I guess that I like the 'tweeners the best.

Cheers,
Bill

I'm a little loss how this proves a great vintage is no guarantee of a great wine (even if I agree with principle).
I think I'll put the album on tonight

I'm a little loss how this proves a great vintage is no guarantee of a great wine (even if I agree with principle).
I think I'll put the album on tonight

I'm kinda in a loss, too, with the ensuing discussion after my post. I'm sure that these gentlemen know very well what they're posted about and I'd love to learn more.
Just the same, I'm with your about putting the album on. Regardless of the wine that I end up uncorking, and if bad, the music makes me go rummage the home cellar for something good.

I guess I'm at a loss, too. Despite the B+, I took the review as negative. WTFDIK?

I suppose I've been conditioned (or conditioned myself) to expect unqualified raves from '09 rosés.

Oy, never mind.

I only meant that ripe vintages tend to produce bigger Rose wines with more color, a broader, fuller mouthfeel and higher alcohol -A style that I don´t always appreciate in Rose. Vintages that lean towards the dilute often mean that more under-developed juice is bled off the red vats in an attempt to improve concentration in those wines resulting in a harsher Rose.

Interesting that you compare it to LdH Gravonia (Blanco?) The only Rose I am familiar with from LdH is the Tondonia Gran Reserva.

Cheers,
Bill

I only meant that ripe vintages tend to produce bigger Rose wines with more color, a broader, fuller mouthfeel and higher alcohol -A style that I don´t always appreciate in Rose. Vintages that lean towards the dilute often mean that more under-developed juice is bled off the red vats in an attempt to improve concentration in those wines resulting in a harsher Rose.

Interesting that you compare it to LdH Gravonia (Blanco?) The only Rose I am familiar with from LdH is the Tondonia Gran Reserva.

Cheers,
Bill

My bad. I quickly made the comparison with a wine that I thought was at a similar price point, hence the Gravonia. Thanks for the catch.
I really meant to compare with the LdH Tondonia Reserva (not a GR), the last of which I had was the 1998, iirc.

I was just wondering if LdH had decided to replant Gravonia! I don´t recall in which vintage the change happened, but they are now labelling all of the Tondonia Rose Gran Reserva, which I believe it has always technically been. But I have enough trouble keeping up on German wine laws to split hairs on Spanish ones !

Cheers,
Bill