Winemaker Notes
This dark, full-bodied rosé from the southern Rhône commands the stage with its hearty presence. Ripe red berries and fine tannins make this Tavel an ideal match for a bistro burger with fries or a charcuterie and cheese board. In terms of food pairings, it can be enjoyed like a quaffable red wine from a nearby region, yet its unique sheen and shimmer, both in the glass and on the palate, distinguish it as a wine in its own right.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 13% Clairette, 13% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 3% Mourvèdre, 1% Bourboulenc
Professional Ratings
-
Vinous
The 2024 Tavel Rosé displays its usual reddish shade and all of its typical power and intensity. There’s real grip and structure here, tugging at the cheeks and lending serious chew. Deep, dark, bitter cherry fruit, sagebrush, river stones and orange pith unfurl in this brooding, powerful Rosé built for the dinner table. It’s not a shy wine—that much is for sure—but its balance is unflappable.
-
Wine Spectator
Show subtleness and elegance, with a polished, silky feel to its notes of pomegranate, cherry and forest berries. Red tea tannins and a lift of alpine herbs bring structure and freshness. Graceful yet still full of substance and depth. Shows a hint of smoke. Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette, Syrah and Mourvedre. Drink now through 2028.
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.