WTN: Mas de Gourgonnier 2021 Baux de Provence Rosé

[Robin Garr]

I've been following Mas de Gourgonnier since the very ... um, for years and years now. I already loved this organic Provençal treat when I got to visit the winery and meet the wine makers in the early 2000s, and I'm still a fan. I think I can still bring an open mind to the tasting experience, though, and ... yum!

I usually get the red, but when the pink turns up I'm always a happy camper. In my experience it always ranks in the top percentile of rosés. It's a bit pricey for a pink at my $20 local price, which seems to be standard in many places, although you can find it for less in some areas and should take advantage. This is a pink that knows it's a pink but that can also play with the big boys and act like a red. Did I already mention that I'm a fan?

Mas de Gourgonnier 2021 Les Baux de Provence Rosé ($19.99)

Certified organic by Ecocert France, Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provence Rosé is made from a typical regional blend of 65% Grenache and 13% Mourvèdre, with a considerably less typical 22% Cabernet Sauvignon in the mix. Rather intense in color for a rosé, it's a rosy-orange wild-salmon color. Fresh and delicious scents focus on raspberries and strawberries, with pleasant, subtle herbal back notes of tarragon. Bright and refreshing on the palate, red-fruit flavors and pops of orange zest are shaped by brisk acidity. Intriguing granite minerality joins in a very long finish. A splendid wine, about as good as rosé gets. 13% alcohol. U.S. importer: Skurnik Wines, NYC., North Berkeley Wines, Berkeley, Calif., and other regional importers. (Oct. 8, 2022)

FOOD MATCH: Wine-searcher suggests serving it with salads and green vegetables, but I think it's more versatile than that. For example, it would be excellent with mild white fish, seafood, and creamy cheeses. We enjoyed it very much with an Italian pasta dish that I discovered years ago in Alba in Piemonte: Spaghetti with butter and sage.

WHEN TO DRINK: It's not a rosé meant for aging. I'd enjoy the 2021 vintage now and enjoy fresher vintages as they arrive.

VALUE:
Wine-Searcher.com's $19 average U.S. retail, consistent with my local price, is on the upper end of the rosé spectrum but well worth it. It's an impressive wine of any color. Still, it's available in some regions and shopsfor as little as $13 or so, so look around if you can.

WEB LINK:
Here's a tech sheet from importer Skurnik Wines.

Meet Mas de Gourgonnier producers Luc, Eve, and Lucienne Cartier and learn a bit more about the property at this Wine-Searcher link.

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

Here's a link to Mas de Gourgonnier's 2021 rosé product page (in French).

Learn about the Les Baux de Provence wine region and browse Wine-Searcher links for dozens more wines from the region at this Wine-Searcher link.

[Jenise]

Sounds great; I haven't seen the pink in ages. I see that Skurnik's the importer now, but wasn't this winery one of the early great discoveries from North Berkeley Imports? I fondly remember the days when if you saw a North Berkeley label, you just bought. That's what mattered not the name of the producer because most likely you wouldn't know the producer anyway.

[Robin Garr]

Jenise, North Berkeley and Skurnik both import it ... different regions. I find that I almost always like Skurnik's QPR wines. Luckily their portfolio gets good representation here. We also see some North Berkeley imports, but they tend to be more pricey and, historically at least, more Parkerized.

[Jenise]

Jenise, North Berkeley and Skurnik both import it ... different regions. I find that I almost always like Skurnik's QPR wines. Luckily their portfolio gets good representation here. We also see some North Berkeley imports, but they tend to be more pricey and, historically at least, more Parkerized.

Back in the time I'm thinking of, the term 'Parkerized' probably hadn't been formed yet. And back then my palate might not have understood the difference, at least not the way I do now. But yes, Skurnik is much more on my horizon now than NB. I have some Gourgonniers in the cellar--will have to check whose I have.