WTN: Surprisingly good celebrity wine: Miraval

Miraval Rouge 2012 - Côtes de Provence; 13,5% abv; c.30€
I'll admit I was skeptical about this. I don't really know who Jolie and Pitt are but celebrity wines so often are bland at best. This however was very drinkable - no doubt the association with Perrin has helped. It has some nice meaty scents in addition to the sweet, sunny southern fruit. It seems quite dark in tone and seemingly Syrah-heavy in the blend. Low acidity but it makes up for that with firm tannins. Ripe fruit but not sickly sweet. Not harshly extracted so it is relatively light bodied for a southern red. Really quite refreshing on the finish despite the low acidity. Not bad at all. The price is silly for what is essentially a fun little wine, but I'm still enjoying this.

It is good.

Thing is, it was good before it was 'celebrified' by Brangelina.

I seriously doubt they have anything to do with it except lounging around on the patio for photo shoots.

If anything, since the takeover, the wine has lost just a touch of its acidity and softened up a bit. More pink; less orange.

[Jenise]

Hoke, are you referring to the pink? Your color references suggest that--what Otto has/had is actually a red. I've not seen that around, didn't realize they were distributing a red (though it makes sense that their estate would make one).

Hoke, are you referring to the pink? Your color references suggest that--what Otto has/had is actually a red. I've not seen that around, didn't realize they were distributing a red (though it makes sense that their estate would make one).

Yes I ordinate toward the rose'---that's because, like all good Provencal roses, they grow the grapes to make rose', rather than as a side effort.

Otto described the red pretty well, I think. It's pleasant, unassuming and decent enough, but not in any way spectacular. Many of the wineries there live off the rose' but make whites and reds so as to have a full line to offer.

Outside of Bandol and Cassis, two special enclaves, many of the wines in Provence tend to feature light-to-medium-bodied reds. Unlike the nearby Rhone, where there is less intense heat, more diurnal range of temperature, and colder winters for dormancy, the wines are naturally a little lighter. If you're not right on the coast or higher altitude in the hills, the wines have fairly light frames. But that makes the area that much better for rose!

I've had the rose and quite enjoyed it. Definitely more towards the salmon-colored, savory side of rose, if I recall.

I have enjoyed the rose as well..Last Summer I bought a Baker's dozen of assorted rose and Miraval was one of the bottles..Will repeat buying this rose basket of goodies this Summer and include the Miraval as one of the 13 different bottles again

[Jenise]

I too have liked the pink--the only thing wrong with it is the price comparatively speaking. Btw, I had the white a few years back and served it blind to a bunch of geeks--all agreed it was terrific.