Cote Des Rose Sparkling Rose

Cote Des Rose is a sparkling rosé made in Massachusetts, which is an uncommon origin for a bottle in this style. The details on file don't name the grape blend, the sparkling method, the dosage or the alcohol level. What follows is what sparkling rosés usually offer, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a pale pink to salmon color with a fine, lively mousse. Styles like this usually show red berry fruit such as strawberry, raspberry and red cherry, often with a touch of citrus zest or melon. The body is typically light to medium. Tannin is negligible, since rosé spends little or no time on its skins. Acidity should be the backbone, giving a crisp, refreshing finish. Oak is rarely part of the picture in this category, so don't expect toast or vanilla. Check the label or ask in store if you need to know how dry or sweet it runs, because that changes which dishes suit it best. At the table, a bottle like this works with salty and fried food. Think oysters, fried calamari, potato chips, tempura vegetables or fried chicken, where the bubbles and acidity cut through the richness. It also suits charcuterie, soft cheeses like brie and fresh goat cheese, sushi, shrimp, and salads with berries or citrus. If the bottle leans off-dry, a spicy dish such as Thai or Szechuan will be easier on it than a bone-dry style would be. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 46°F, which is about three hours in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in an ice bucket of ice and water. Colder than that mutes the fruit, and warmer makes it taste flabby. Don't decant it, because that would flatten the bubbles. Open it gently and hold the cork as you ease it out. A tulip-shaped sparkling glass or a white wine glass is better than a wide, shallow coupe. It keeps the bubbles and concentrates the fruit aromas. Treat it as a drink-now bottle. Nothing about the style suggests it will gain from cellaring, since sparkling rosés are generally made for freshness. Keep it upright and cool until you open it, and drink it within a year or so of purchase for the brightest fruit.