Cote Mas Rouge

Cote Mas Rouge is a red table wine sold in a 1-litre bottle, which gives about one-third more wine than a standard 750 ml. It is bottled under the Esplanda label and listed with a Massachusetts appellation, and it sits in the French red category. The listing gives no grape blend, vintage or alcohol level, so the notes below describe what this style usually delivers, not a measured profile. Reds in this French-inspired, everyday style typically lean on red and dark berry fruit, such as cherry, plum and raspberry, with a light peppery or earthy note underneath. Expect a medium body, moderate tannin and enough acidity to keep the wine fresh with food. Oak influence is usually modest or absent in wines made to be opened young, and the finish tends to be short to medium and dry. At the table, a wine like this suits food with some fat and salt: roast chicken, sausages, burgers, baked pasta with tomato sauce, hard cheeses such as cheddar or Gruyère, and mushroom dishes. Serve it slightly cool, around 60 to 65°F (15 to 18°C). Twenty minutes in the refrigerator before opening usually gets a room-temperature bottle there. Decanting isn't necessary, though pouring it into a jug or carafe for ten minutes or so will loosen up any tightness. A standard red wine glass with a moderate bowl is enough. Treat this as a drink-now bottle. Everyday reds in this style are made for near-term drinking, and extra cellar time is unlikely to improve them. The 1-litre size suits a dinner for three or four, or a table wine you plan to finish across a couple of evenings. Re-cork it and keep it cool between pours.