2019 Roc des Anges Cotes Catalanes Rose. - Les Vignes Metissees

Bandol gets most of the “luxury” rosé love and attention, but it’s definitely not the only place where world-class, mind-changing rosé comes from. Roc des Anges is an organically- and biodynamically-farmed estate in the Côtes Catalanes - the Mediterranean region of France just north of the Pyrenees and Spanish Catalunya. “Les Vignes Métissées” means the mixed vineyards, and this wine lives up to its name: it’s an intricate blend of co-planted grenache blanc, gris and noir; malvoisie; carignan blanc, gris, and noir; macabeu; picpoul; cinsault; mourvedre; and muscat. The pale copper color comes from the very brief time that the juice is in contact with the red varieties and not from deliberate maceration or saignée. The grapes are whole-cluster pressed and ferment with ambient yeast before being aged in barrels and foudres (228- and 500-liter) that are mostly used. Unlike Bandol rosé, you could almost think this was a white wine, with just a hint of berry and citrus and plenty of saline minerality. Delicate yet radiant. Elegant and complex, yet easy to love. This is an extra-classy aperitif for sure, as well as a great match for fish soups and olive-y dishes such as pissaladière.