Domaine Saint Roch Rose de Loire 2018
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100% Free run Gamay from the heart of the Touraine in the Loire, this elegant, pale pink rosé with delicate strawberry notes and a crisp finish, offers refreshment at a can’t say no price.
Denis Bardon runs now his family Estate. With almost 40 hectares of vineyards, Domaine Saint Roch produces a variety of wines offering great value from their vines planted in mainly clay and flint soils with some limestone. The estate pratices sustainable viticulture. Attentive work in the vineyard, selective pruning, and perfectly ripened grapes are the motto for Denis Bardon, who makes wines with balance, good acidity and typical Loire-Valley wine characteristics.
The estate got its name from the patron saint of the church in the Bardon’s hometown of Meusnes, also the patron saint of stonemakers. Due to his family’s long history in stone and flint production, Denis Bardon thought it the perfect name to represent the wines under his Touraine label.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
Praised for its stately Renaissance-era chateaux, the picturesque Loire valley produces pleasant wines of just about every style. Just south of Paris, the appellation lies along the river of the same name and stretches from the Atlantic coast to the center of France.
The Loire can be divided into three main growing areas, from west to east: the Lower Loire, Middle Loire, and Upper/Central Loire. The Pay Nantais region of the Lower Loire—farthest west and closest to the Atlantic—has a maritime climate and focuses on the Melon de Bourgogne variety, which makes refreshing, crisp, aromatic whites.
The Middle Loire contains Anjou, Saumur and Touraine. In Anjou, Chenin Blanc produces some of, if not the most, outstanding dry and sweet wines with a sleek, mineral edge and characteristics of crisp apple, pear and honeysuckle. Cabernet Franc dominates red and rosé production here, supported often by Grolleau and Cabernet Sauvignon. Sparkling Crémant de Loire is a specialty of Saumur. Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are common in Touraine as well, along with Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay and Malbec (known locally as Côt).
The Upper Loire, with a warm, continental climate, is Sauvignon Blanc country, home to the world-renowned appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Pinot Noir and Gamay produce bright, easy-drinking red wines here.