Bertrand Cotes Des Roses Rose

Cotes Des Roses Rose is a Languedoc rosé from Bertrand, bottled at 12.5% ABV. The producer's notes describe a fresh, fruity wine with floral touches. The label doesn't name the grapes. Languedoc rosés are usually built on Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, which tend to give red berry fruit, a light body and a dry finish. Expect strawberry and raspberry on the palate, with a floral lift on the nose. Acidity should be bright enough to keep the wine crisp, and tannin and oak should be barely noticeable, since rosés like this are normally made in stainless steel for freshness. The finish is likely to be short to medium and clean. At 12.5%, the wine is light enough to work as an aperitif and still has enough fruit to stand up to a meal. Serve it well chilled, around 8 to 10°C. A couple of hours in the fridge, or 30 minutes in an ice bucket, will do it. Going much colder mutes the floral aromas. Decanting isn't needed, because opening the bottle and pouring is all a young, fruit-driven rosé requires. A white wine glass or a tulip-shaped glass with a modest bowl will concentrate the aromas without letting the wine warm too fast. For food, the usual Mediterranean dishes suit this style. Try grilled prawns, niçoise salad, tapenade on toasted bread, ratatouille, or soft goat's cheese with herbs. Charcuterie and light vegetable tarts also work, as do mildly spiced dishes such as grilled chicken with lemon and thyme. Rosés of this kind are made for drinking young and rarely improve with extra cellaring, so open it within a year or two of the vintage while the fruit and floral character are still fresh. The label doesn't state a vintage, so check the bottle itself.