Of all the Rose wine I tasted in 2016 both while here in the USA and on my trip this past July and August through the Rhone, Marseille and the Languedoc I kept coming back to three Rose wines that stood out, and while the Tavels go from strength to strength it was wines from Corsica, the Coteaux d'Aix en Provence and Bandol that got my heart racing and drove my lust levels for the idea of #RoseAllDay.
For New Year's Eve, I decided to pop the last of the half dozen bottles I went through this year of the 2015 Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, as later in the evening we would be drinking the last of two remaining 1989 Pradeaux Bandols along with the 85 Gassac and the two 2013 Comunicano Wine Company reds (reviews to follow).
When one thinks of Bandol Rose the commonly suggested wine is from Domaine Tempier, or you hear suggestions of Domaine Ott due to it's very sexy, rubenesque shaped bottle. So while I can admit the Tempier is a very well made wine, as enjoyed there this past August, the Pradeaux, along with the Chateau Vignulare from outside of Aix and the translucent Corsican from Domaine de Marquiliani.
The 2015 Pradeaux is a standout because the blend of Mourvedre and Cinsault, with possibly some Grenache, is such a perfect match. This wine has body, but is delightfully dry. It's perfect on a hot summer day, or a cool winter night. You can drink it at any part of the meal, or all by itself, but what makes it such a standout is the fact that it is loaded with fruit that never stops coming your way. The wine starts out with a hint of high Provence grown lavender scents, and follows with an appealing orange blossom and red currant bouquet. Then on the palate you taste white peaches, blood orange, black raspberry and some sour cherry flavors.
Having visited Pradeaux on two occasions now, it's not the most commercial winery you'll ever visit. But the best rarely are. It's a family business, and their wines are incredible, but so overshadowed by others in the region. And, if your thinking about how great this Rose was, their two 89 Bandols, Classique and Vieilles Vignes were just plain incredible.