It is summer, and in my kitchen we cook a lot of fish and seafood, some poultry plus we consume a lot of fresh fruit i.e. peaches, apricots, plums and melons spiced with slices of feta cheese and, whenever we can find them, fresh black figs. And we make lighter dishes, like soups and risottos and pasta casseroles.
To wash all this goodness down we drink lighter wines; such as South American Sauvignon Blanc, Soave from the Veneto, Assyrtiko, Robola and Savatiano from Greece and all kinds of rosé wines from wherever good rosés are produced.
I’ve gotten some nice rosés from France, Italy and Chile so I decided to call together some members of the “gang of the usual suspects” and try them on a rare cool summer evening, on the rooftop “garden” of a friend in Manhattan. The same day I also tasted at home an elegant rosé from Domains Ott.
We tried:
Rumor – Côtes de Provence 2022
Whispering Angel – Caves d’Eclance Sasha Lichin 2022
Rock Angel – Caves d’Eclance Sasha Lichin 2022
Villa Sandi – Rosato Spumante Brut
Villa Sandi – Prosecco Rosé Millesimato 2021
Ryder Estate – Pinot Noir Rose 2020
Montes Cherub 2021
Domains Ott
They were all seductive, elegant, dry wines, with a cherry-pink color; that color was intense for some and subdued in others. The two Italian sparklers exhibited a delicate mostly floral touch.
The two Sasha Lichin rosés, according to their Technical Director Bertrand Leon “offered notes of fresh citrus, rose petal and red fruits on the nose and palate that are round and well-balanced with great acidity and structure.” And we concur.
Actually, the Whispering Angel which was bone dry and aromatic with a smooth finish, received a high rating of 93/100.
The Rumor, according to their winemaker, exhibits “white floral and sweet spice which leads into juicy pink grapefruit, white peach and jasmine (?) on the palate. Fresh apricot and a bracing salinity frame the finish.” In the bottle we tasted all the mentioned elements were there with the notable exception of the white peach and jasmine; actually what was there, we thought, was an intense taste of white nectarines. It was rated at 88/100.
The Villa Sandi – Prosecco Rosé Millesimato 2021 was smooth and soft and aromatic with notes of pomegranate and a floral and red fruit hint. The rating for this prosecco was 90/100.
The Chilean Montes Cherub, a blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache, was an earthier and rather spicy rosé. It exhibited notes of raspberries and tart cherries with hints of pineapple and apricot. Quite a bit darker than the other rosés we tasted, but just as seductive. It was rated at 89/100. The California Ryder Estate Pinot Noir Rosé was crisp and refreshing with fragrant strawberry and cherry aromas. Paired beautifully with a Asian-style salad of shredded cabbage, soba noodles, thin Apple Matchsticks and a dressing made of Black Vinegar, Sesame Paste, Sesame Oil, Light Soy Sauce and toasted Slivered Almonds. Interestingly, it was rated at 91/100.
Manos Angelakis was one of the founders, the former Managing Editor for 25 years, the former Managing Editor Emeritus, and former Senior Food & Wine Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. He passed away in 2025 as an accomplished travel writer, photographer, and food and wine critic based in Hackensack, New Jersey. As a travel writer, he wrote extensively about numerous cities and countries. Manos was also certified as a Tuscan Wine Master and traveled to wine-producing areas in order to evaluate firsthand the product of top-rated vineyards. His articles in other publications include Vision Times and Epoch Times.
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