Winemaker Notes
Tavel Le Cretace Rose gives up vibrant wild strawberry, watermelon, crushed flowers and hints of spice to go with a medium-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. A classic rose from this appellation, enjoy this beauty with food over the coming year or two.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
This impeccably run estate makes great wines from throughout the Rhône Valley, and their rosés are always terrific. The 2019 Tavel Le Crétacé has a complex bouquet of wild strawberries, cherry blossoms, and spring flowers. This carries to a medium-bodied Tavel that has terrific overall balance, a clean, refreshing texture, and a crisp finish. It’s a richer, balanced, dry rosé geared for the dinner table. I’d be happy to have it on my table any time over the coming 6-12 months.
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Wine Enthusiast
Freshly picked red cherries and strawberries are etched by tangs of salt and crushed mineral in this vibrant blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Full bodied but spirited, it’s a zesty Tavel that’s quaffable by the pool but solid enough to accompany grilled lamb or beef.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Notes of bay leaf and lavender mark the nose of the suitably named 2019 Vacqueyras Grande Garrigue, a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault. Aged in a combination of concrete vats and older barrels, it's full-bodied and round in the mouth, with black cherries and plums framed by supple tannins that turn velvety on the finish. Rating : 88-90
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.
The only all-rosé appellation in the Rhone, a Tavel comes in many hues from light salmon to bright pink and is said to be the only rosé that can actually age—and improve. The rosé wines of Tavel have a great historic reputation, having been favored by King Louis XIV in the 18th century, as well as famous authors, Balzac and Mistral.
Tavel are always dry but the high percentage of the fruity Grenache (30-60% of the blend by law) and even Cinsault, give charming aromas and flavors that make them feel "almost sweet." A great Tavel rosé will have a bouquet suggestive of rose petals, apricot, strawberry and red currant. The palate may be fleshy, round and layered but is always fresh and balanced.