Ros(é)y Expectations

Recently, I cracked open a bottle of “value” Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. Frankly, for under $10, it’s a good wine. There’s a little asparagus, some herbs, a touch of earthiness, suggestive citrus— but after my initial taste, I was disappointed.

“Awww… I should’ve spent the extra money on [x brand] from New Zealand.” My despair continued: “The finish is too short… I want more vibrant acidity and some prominent star fruit flavors.” (In one of those moods I suppose…).

However, my thoughts suddenly drifted to the night before, where I shared a bottle of Sangiovese “rosato” (aka. rosé) from Marche, Italy. This is also a wine that would retail for approximately $10. I’d say its redeeming quality was the fact it was organic—but never mind that, it was as satisfying as can be. Why? Because it drank like juice!  It was fruity, fun and went down easy—not to mention, it was as pink as pink comes = great extraction!

Now, imho this Italian rosé is a wine I’d gladly share with friends again and again. However, was it a complex wine? Absolutely not! As for that “value” Chilean Sauvignon Blanc—I’d be embarrassed to present this bottle to any wine enthusiast; yet, its degree of complexity would easily rival the aforementioned rosato.

This leads me to believe that we simply don’t place the highest of expectations on our rosé wines (aka. “the pink stuff”). Just today I read that exports of Provence rose alone to the U.S. jumped 62% in the past year. I honestly don’t get it because, aside from those who’ve had the fortune of actually vacationing in the Provence region of France and want a liquid souvenir to continuously remind them of that lovely experience, why shell out $15 – $20 for a certified Provence rosé when you can have a rosé wine for a lot less?

Again, we’re talking “pink wine”. Many think it’s sweet, though a few understand it can also be dry. At the end of the day, I ‘drink pink’ (dry or sweet) because I’m looking for something that is refreshingly different, fruity and easy-drinking… If you were to tell me that this particular white/red wine “drinks like juice”, I’d stay away… but to have a rosé wine that is guzzle-friendly and looks pretty to boot, I’d say, “hell, yeah—home run!!”

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