There are many expressions of rosé wine. And just to be clear, the color of the wine in the bottle has no bearing on the quality inside. The color is determined by the length of time the grape skins are in contact with the juice during the fermentation process.
The Tavel wine-growing appellation is in the Southern Rhone region of France where rosé wines are historically famous for their dark cranberry color. Only rosé wines are made in this tiny region located across the Rhone River from the famed Chateaneuf-du-Pape region.
Their full-bodied style and flavor makes them much more than a pool, porch and picnic wine. Grenache, by law, must make up 60% of the wine in each bottle made in Tavel. Cinsault, syrah and mourvedre grapes are commonly used to blend with the ganache, however, nine total varietals are permitted.
La Vigne du Roy Tavel 2021 is made from 60% grenache, 30% syrah and 10% cinsault. It has lots of white cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors. Definitely more of a full-bodied wine than your typical bottle of rosé.
I sampled this bottle on two occasions and found it to be quite lovely with a hunk of Lively Run Dairy's aged goat cheese from New York's Finger Lakes topped with a dollop of strawberry and rhubarb jam. Meredith Dairy sheep and goat cheese topped with the same jam was heavenly. I loved how it complemented the Carmona olive mix, with those tiny nicoise olives, from Krieger’s Market.
I made a quick Sunday night dinner with some leftover pistachio pesto from 3 Palms Pizzeria in Hudson. Of course, it went perfectly with the Tavel. I originally taste-tested this wine with Tom Procaccio, owner of Wise Guys Lounge and Grill on North Hill. Procaccio likes how this wine stands up to an order of his shrimp and sausage campanella. I like how this bottle can be enjoyed all year-round.
Buy this wine at Krieger’s Market, both Mustard Seed Market locations, Acme in Montrose, DeVitis Italian Market, Lakes Beverage, Avenue Wine Shop and HomeBuys in Canton, Top Shelf of Ohio in Jackson Township and Wise Guys Lounge and Grill on North Hill.
Contact Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com.