June has arrived, and we’ve been blessed with some fine weather, so it’s time to stock up for those BBQs, park picnics, pool-side parties, and/or for that refreshing post-work glass. Whether it’s a sassy, supple Rhone blanc or a concentrated, focused Tavel Rosé, surely one of these will give your palate pleasure.
If you haven’t had the 2006 Domaine Segries Tavel Rosé ($12.99) yet, there is no better time than the present. Laser precise, full of pure juicy strawberry fruits that reach record depth, and great acidity and structure, it’s truly a marriage of fun and focus. The blend is 50% grenache, 30% cinsault, 15% clairette and 5% syrah, from perhaps the most notable appellation for rosé production. Don’t let this one slip by; it’ll go fast.
The 2006 Mas Neuf Costieres de Nimes Blanc ($10.99) is down right scrumptious. This blanc is a blend of 85% grenache blanc and 15% rousanne. This little tootsie has rounded edges, soft in all the right places, yet firm and elegant at the same time. She’s more or less the girl next door of the wine world. There’s nothing esoteric about her; austere without being Spartan, with no oak, all stainless steel to capture her pure essence. Fresh cut white flowers on the nose and fresh juice sliding down the palate. —Keelyn Healy