Nothing says Spring more to the Wine Witch than a Rose. Again, you White Zinfandel lovers out there need to understand that this is a whole other thing. The color may be close, but that’s where it ends. White Zinfandels are lighter weight and farily sweet. If this is your thing, I would recommend Beringer. I know Sutter Home pretty much invited White Zin, but the Beringer is much better.
I was not familiar with the Chateau d’Ouipa Minervoise Rose. I have said it time and again, if you are a wine lover make friends with the guy/gal who is in charge of purchasing wine for your local shop. They have pretty much sampled everything in the store. Over time they will get to know your taste and steer you in the right direction. Anyway, Paul put this one in my hand when I asked for a recommendation.
The Chateau d’Ouipa is some serious wine for a Rose. Robert Parker, who is the Mt. Olympus of wine ciritics, always rates this one pretty high and a great value. This one comes from the Languedoc region of France and is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Counoise. Such a pretty color – quite a pale peachy pink. The nose is mostly rose petals and almonds. It is very dry for a Rose with a deep body. This wine has a sense of place with a pleasant minerality. Fair warning – if you like a fruit forward style, this one is not it. There are some light strawberry flavors, but I mostly get the minerals along with the almonds and floral notes from the nose.
I struggled with rate the Chateau d’Ouipa Minervoise Rose. I definitely liked it, but it was not quite what I expected (I happend to like a bit more fruit in my Rose) and at the top of our price range. In the end I gave it a 4, but still recommend you try it and decide for yourself.
Related posts:
Posted in 
