Rosé Season in Full Swing
You could make the case that any season is rosé season, especially in California, but there's no denying that the dog days of summer are when these pink gems really shine. Today's newsletter explores the category in depth, starting with Gary Westby's top picks in rosé Champagne. Keith Mabry offers up his favorite Provence performers, plus a pair of stellar artisan beauties from Greece and Lebanon. Finally, we'll take a look at how the category has gone from pedestrian to profound with a sampling of the world's finest collectible renditions.
Rosé Champagne: Bubbles Like No Other
Top Provençal Picks for Summer
Expanding Horizons in Greece and Lebanon
Rosé Gets Serious: Collectible Stunners for the Cellar
The Elegance of Rosé Champagne
Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer
No conversation about rosé wine would be complete without including the sublime and capricious wines of Champagne. For me, most of the best Champagnes that I have had have been rosé. Much of that is due to the attention to detail and meticulous craftsmanship that goes into rosé Champagne—after all, it's a difficult process to nail down in this northerly, continental climate. Even so, these wines can be some of the most elegant and graceful expressions in the world, and the three producers in today's selection do it as well as anyone else out there. Read more.
Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne $39.99 View
NV Pierre Paillard "Les Terres Roses" Grand Cru Extra Brut Rosé Champagne 93 $64.99 View
2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Elisabeth" Brut Rosé Champagne 96 $219.99 View
Parade of Provençal Rosés
Keith Mabry, K&L France Buyer
It’s hard to think of a better way to spend a hot holiday weekend than with some fresh and vibrant rosés! The 2023 vintage in Provence is outstanding, and many of our favorites have landed. This list represents some of the best QPR drinking when it comes to classic southern French pink wines, and all of these punch well-above their price points. Because we work aggressively with our suppliers, we have classic wines from Provence for a fraction of what you would find elsewhere. Santé! Read more.
2023 Château Revelette Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé $17.99 View
2023 Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé $16.99 View
2023 Domaine la Chapelle Saint Victor Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé $14.99 View
2023 Domaine la Colombe Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé $13.99 View
Ancient Wine Cultures with Amazing Modern Rosés
Keith Mabry, K&L Greece Buyer
I think the world has started to embrace the idea that not all rosé is from France, and actually some of its most interesting and gastronomic examples come from other parts of the world. Two of my favorite outliers come from the Mediterranean—but maybe not from places that would be your first or even second guesses. I speak of two unique and utterly fascinating winemaking regions—the island of Crete in Greece and the high mountains of the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. The producers from both of these regions have near cult-like followings for those in the know. So if you don’t know, this is a great opportunity to find out! Read more.
2022 Iliana Malihin Liatiko Rosé Rethymno Crete Greece $24.99 View
2018 Château Musar Rosé Lebanon $49.99 View
Collectible Rosé Goes Mainstream
Kate Soto, K&L Digital Content Lead
Once the preferred wine style of ancient Greeks, rosé's vibrant and fruit-forward character has often been overlooked in serious wine discussions. But the category is now widely recognized for its potential complexity, especially when crafted with quality grapes and winemaking techniques. From celebrity-endorsed labels to coveted Lebanese variants, rosé is finally basking in much-deserved appreciation. The following are a few of our top picks from last weekend's tasting lineup that rose-lovers should not miss. Read more.
2022 Clos Cibonne "Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes" Tibouren Côtes de Provence Rosé $54.99 View
2023 Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé $26.99 View
2023 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Estate" Rosé $34.95 View
2020 Bodegas 220 Cántaras "Lias Finas" Rosado Rioja $34.99 View
2023 Realm "Precious Twin" Napa Valley Rosé $69.95 View