Winemaker Notes
Powerful, mineral-accented aromas of ripe red berries and citrus fruits, joined by a suave, floral top note that builds in the glass. Sappy and concentrated on the palate, offering fresh raspberry, bitter cherry, and blood orange flavors and a hint of honeysuckle. Finishes long, chewy, and precise, delivering strong mineral cut and lingering florality.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Tavel Cuvee des Lys appears a bit lighter in the glass than the Trinite bottling; the blend is 60% Grenache, 30% Clairette and 10% Syrah. Scents of crushed stone, citrus and strawberries appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is tighter and more structured, revealing an almost stony austerity that lingers through the long finish. It's the rare rose that might be even better next year around this time. Rating: 92+
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James Suckling
I love the effusive redcurrant fruit of this elegant and animating Tavel rosé that proves the wines of this appellation don’t have to be heavy. Excellent interplay of ripeness, fine tannins and just enough acidity to pull you inexorably back for more. A cuvee of grenache, syrah and clairette.
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.