SNAFU

Again I’m so impressed with the quality of this property and all that they do. Le Clos du Caillou continues to make very high quality wines at all levels. We were lucky enough to grab a bottle of the 07 Caillou CDR rose. Let’s just first start the conversation with the color of the wine instead of the press scores, terroir or oozing about the aroma. Looking at wine, if done often, reveals another dimension in the pleasure of consuming the world’s most fascinating beverage. You can tell if the wine will have higher than usual alcohol or sugars. You can get clues as to whether the vintage was warmer or cooler, how much extraction and time during ferment passed as well as certain vinification techniques like filtred, non filtred, etc.

Caillou’s 07 rose is an amazing light shade of red. Imagine crushing bright red rose petals into a tall glass of water and then adding a dash of orange zest. Voila, you have this vintage of spanking fresh, vibrant and joyful rose. The wine lightly grabs the sides of the glass and what legs that do form form slowly and quietly. The light shade of pink and hints of orange tell me it was a beautiful saignee with some ripe grapes, balanced and refreshing. Brilliantly clean and refractive of sunlight. It looks like the ultimate summer rose, but my wife and I say, why restrict ourselves to summer only. Roses are brilliant all year round and go with myriad of foods.  If you are lucky enough to come across this wine get some and treat yourself.

Tasting note from the importer: A vibrant pink in the glass, this rosé shows raspberries, blood peaches and pink roses on the nose. Flavors are complex and densely layered, yet drink effortlessly—poached cherries blend with orange water on the palate. A blend of 40% Counoise, 35% Mourvèdre and 25% Grenache; full-bodied like a red wine, and will age well for several years.