Wino Wednesday – Château La Lieue Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé 2011

Wino Wednesday is a monthly feature on Food Gypsy where we select our favorite bottle from the past month.  Our pick for June and under $15 — Château La Lieue Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé 2011.

Light, fruity and ready to drink, this organic wine is my pick of the summer, thus far.  A still rosé with a delicate rose petal colour, it is truly representative of all that a rosé should be.   It’s fresh  lively nose, when allowed to stand for just a few minutes in the heat of the summer evening, it has a hint of earth, reminiscent of the vineyard after a rain.  Yet, for all it’s freshness, the Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé still has a rich, smooth taste that ends with a dry bitterness and makes it a winner with many a summer meal.

So affordable at $14.30, the Château La Lieue Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé is among the best priced organics I’ve some across in a long time.  Floral and fruity, fresh with a hit of mineral in it’s background, I love the grapefruit finish and the pale grey that underscores the pink of it’s hue.  This is a wine without food coloring or unnecessary additives, it’s perfect in it’s natural state.  Although the label lists sulphates, (human guinea pig that I am) I didn’t react at all to this bottle… or the several that followed.

A graceful addtion to your table if you’re serving seafood, pasta, or big beefy burgers. Personally, I find rosé pairs well with most summer foods and light meals like herb based salads and cold sandwiches. Coming from the Provence region of southern France, between Marseilles and Monaco, it paired particularly well with last month’s Pain Bagnat and Salad Nicoise for a perfect French inspired picnic.  Gypsy scorecard:  89/100.

Château La Lieue Coteaux Varois en Provence rosé; not to be missed this summer at your local vintner.