WTN: Mas de Gourgonnier 2020 Rosé

[Robin Garr]

I love all the wines of Mas du Gourgonnier, and I have happy memories of a visit to this all-organic winery back in 2002. The 2020 rosé isn't cheap by pink-wine standards, but I think it's well worth it for sipping - chilled, not ice-cold- on their simmering summer days we're having.

Mas de Gourgonnier 2020 Les Baux de Provence Rosé ($19.99)

An excellent Provence blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre with a less typical glug of Cabernet Sauvignon, this organically grown rosé is a pretty, rosy pink. Delicious, subtle but distinct mixed red-berry aromas, raspberries and strawberries, invite a taste. It's just as delicious on the palate, with red berries and a snap of zippy, citric lemon-lime. Brisk acidity builds structure, and intriguing rainwater-over-rocks minerality joins berries and citrus in a very long finish. Moderate 13% alcohol. U.S. importer: Skurnik Wines & Spirits, NYC. (Aug. 7, 2021)

FOOD MATCH: In my experience, good Provence rosés like this pair well with either mild or oily fish, "white" meats like chicken or pork, vegetable dishes in general and fresh, mild cheeses. It's also a match for spicy fare, and went very well with the red and black pepper kick of a Cajun-style dish with okra and tomatoes from our garden.

WHEN TO DRINK: Provence rosés reward drinking young, while they're full of fresh fruit. I wouldn't worry about drinking this 2020 over the next couple of years, but there's no point in cellaring it.

VALUE:
My local price matches Wine-Searcher.com's $19 average U.S. retail. It's not a cheap rosé, but it is a very good rosé. It's fair value at this price. According to Wine-Searcher.com's price and review statistics, "Critics have rated this as the best available among Les Baux de Provence wines ... Based on critic scores and price, this wine represents great value."

WEB LINK:
This importer's link points to a quick fact sheet on Mas de Gourgonnier Rosé. [url=MASDEGOURGONNIER_LesBauxdeProvenceRose_2020_TECHSHEET.pdf]Click here[/url] for more detailed technical info in PDF form.

FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Mas de Gourgonnier Rosé on Wine-Searcher.com.

Follow this Wine-Searcher link to browse Wine-Searcher's listings for all the wines produced by Mas de Gourgonnier.

Learn about Les Baux de Provence and browse listings for the region's wines at this Wine-Searcher link.

I love all the wines of Mas du Gourgonnier, and I have happy memories of a visit to this all-organic winery back in 2022.

Ha! The jokes write themselves, because time really is warped during a pandemic.

Robin, I couldn't help notice that the wine seems to be made from 105% of the grapes listed

[David M. Bueker]

Robin, I couldn't help notice that the wine seems to be made from 105% of the grapes listed

When Robin visited in the future they had determined how to get an extra 5% in the bottle.

[Robin Garr]

I love all the wines of Mas du Gourgonnier, and I have happy memories of a visit to this all-organic winery back in 2022.

Ha! The jokes write themselves, because time really is warped during a pandemic.

Dang! I can't even blame autocorrect. Flying fingers, though.

[Robin Garr]

Also, I would fire my copy editor, but I'm married to her.

[Robin Garr]

It's still a damn good wine, though.

Also, all edited.

[Robin Garr]

Screen Shot 2021-08-13 at 8.23.42 PM.png

And finally, it's all Skurnik's fault!

Robin

I will keep my eye out for this. I think their red wine is year in and year out a great wine at a decent price, although it has been ascending the last few years. I am never disappointed with their red. So they make a white blend as well?

[Robin Garr]

John, it looks like they make a little Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Rolle blend, some years from Coteaux d’Aix Provence and some from Les Alpilles. There doesn't seem to be much around, and Wine-Searcher lists only one U.S. source at $30. So I guess the answer is, just barely.

Skurnik doesn't currently list it, but here's a link to a fairly detailed fact sheet from North Berkeley if you'd like to pursue it:
http://www.northberkeleyimports.com/wor ... _blanc.pdf

Les Baux-de-Provence and the wider IGP des Alpilles produce some of the finest wines on the French Mediterranean rim, IMO. I particularly love the Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend from Domaine de Trévallon, some vintages of which I rate up with leading Médoc GCCs and Musar, the characters of which it can be a subtle blend. Also highly regarded are the wines of Domaine Hauvette. I have much less experience of these at home, although I was extremely impressed a few years ago at a tasting in spite of Dominique Hauvette's rather acerbic personality (that day?). I have had wines from other estates in the region (but not Gourgonnier, IIRC) and can't recall any disappointment.