Pink Criquet Bordeaux Rose 2006
What does a cricket have to do with wine? Not much really … this wine is so-called because the winemaker Pierre Seillan’s rugby mates nicknamed him “Criquet” for his small size and lightning reflexes. Seillan — the same genius behind Verite, Chateau Lassegue, and Tenuta di Arceno (among others) — makes this rose wine with 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Bordeaux, using a process called “saignee” — whereby free-run juice gently kissed with the color of red grapes during maceration is added to enhance the wine’s color and flavor complexity.
Don’t let the shiny hot pink screwtop fool you – this is a serious wine. It can be summed up in two words: fresh and bright. Very bright, deep pink, magenta color. The nose is equally bright and open, displaying fun and pleasing aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and a hint of citrus. Flavors are bright, ripe, and mild, with strawberry, cranberry, red raspberry, white cherry, a touch of pink grapefruit and a steely mineral note. Acidity is mild to medium, and there are sufficiently perceptible tannins. Finishes clean as a whistle, with all elements perfectly balanced. This is pleasing enough on its own to be an aperitif, but really comes alive when paired with foods. You can enjoy it with flavorful fish, non-red-sauce pasta dishes and salads, bean salads, poultry, Asian and Indian cuisine, and hot and spicy dishes. A very versatile wine, and enjoyable at all degrees between room temperature and over-chilled. When toward the warmer side, it looks, smells, and tastes more like a Beaujolais Cru than a run-of-the-mill rose. At around fifteen bucks, this is appropriately priced.
a-7 t-7 b-10 fc-10 v-7 ~ 91 Points
Importer: Sovereign Wine Imports
