Bertand So'Vive

Bertand So'Vive is a rosé from Massachusetts, bottled under the Esplanda label. The details on file give the region and category but not the grape blend, vintage or alcohol level. Everything below about the glass is therefore what dry New England rosés usually show, not a measured profile of this bottle. Cool-climate East Coast rosé tends to be pale salmon to light pink in color. Expect red berry fruit such as strawberry and raspberry, perhaps a touch of watermelon or citrus peel, and a crisp, refreshing acidity that suits the region's shorter growing season. Styles like this are typically light to medium in body, with little or no tannin and no obvious oak. The finish is usually clean and fairly short. At the table, this kind of rosé works best with food that is light and a little salty. New England seafood is the natural match: steamed clams, lobster rolls, fried calamari, or oysters with a squeeze of lemon. It also does well with goat cheese salads, prosciutto and melon, grilled chicken, and picnic spreads of cold cuts and soft cheese. The acidity cuts through mayonnaise-based dishes and fried foods. A modest amount of residual sugar, if this bottling has any, would let it handle mildly spiced dishes such as Thai salads or lightly seasoned shrimp. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which is about two hours in the refrigerator or thirty minutes in an ice bucket. Colder than that mutes the fruit, and much warmer makes the wine feel flat. There is no need to decant. Pour it straight from the bottle into a standard white-wine glass or a universal stemware shape, filling it about a third full so the aromatics gather above the wine. Keep the bottle in an ice bucket between pours in warm weather. Most rosé is made for drinking young, and this one is probably best opened within a year or two of release, while the fruit is bright. Unless the label or producer says otherwise, don't expect it to improve with cellaring. Once opened, recork it and keep it in the refrigerator. It should hold its freshness for two to three days.