Rosé season is upon us. If you didn’t serve a bottle with your Easter Sunday Supper, perhaps you will on Mother’s Day. For me, rosé “season” is year-round, and I always have at least one bottle chilling in my ‘fridge.
It’s the perfect wine to serve with appetizers and salads, or while you wait for your big red to open.
If you’ve been in a wine department any time in the last ten or so years, you’ve probably come across a bottle or two of light-Salmon-colored Provence Rosé.
These wines are usually Grenache-based, and are dry with mineral-driven strawberry notes. Because Provence AOC rules mandate that wines are estate-bottled, and because wines are made from grapes that are grown specifically for rosé production, it’s difficult to find an AOC Provence Rosé for under $10.
Enter Costco, the store with the largest wine-buying power in the country.
I was thrilled to see an AOC Provence Rosé for only $8.99, complete with a sleek bottle that lists the breakdown of the grapes. Most Provence Rosés are some combination of Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvedre.
This wine also includes Tibouren, Rolle (Vermentino), Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The label lists that the wine is bottled at Domaine De LaCroix.
A quick Google search led me to the winery’s website but did not provide much information in terms of what this wine might cost direct from the winery.
But who cares anyways, right? One needs not to fly to the south of France in order to enjoy this deliciously light Spring wine.
Simply head to your nearest Costco warehouse, and quickly. I heard a rumor that the Cumberland, GA club sold ten cases the first day.
This wine opens with a perfumed nose of bubblegum, strawberries, and later, rose petals. The mineral and ripe fruit-driven palate has a restrained level of acidity that doesn’t make your mouth automatically pucker.
While the wine is sweet upfront, it finishes on a bone-dry, but clean, mineral note.
I went back the next day and bought two more. I give this wine 90 points and a Good Value designation.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points & Good Value
Purchased in Cumming, GA
Alcohol: 13%
Costco Item Number: 1133993
Dwight Hight says
You forgot to inform your redearship of the influence of Michele Rolla MNnd on this wonderful rosé. We should talk sometime. Your Costco wine steward....... I Dwight Hight
Maria Jette says
I bought 4 bottles the other day, prior to tasting it, and rather regret it now. I've drunk quite a bit of really good rosé over the years-- mainly in Europe, before America figured out that pink didn't automatically mean "white zinfandel"-- and appreciate the wide variety of styles across France, Italy, Spain and beyond. This is one I'd call "austere." I wonder if it might be from a different bottling than the one you've reviewed here, in fact-- there's absolutely no hint of "sweet upfront" or "fruit-driven" in what I tasted in this. The flavor is so pale as to be barely perceptible! It's like rather tart air. Nothing wrong with it, just not what I'd call a terribly friendly rosé, although perfectly serviceable with a meal. Serviceable, and utterly unmemorable. What I like in rosé is a bit of body and flavor which can stand up to something garlicky, or spicy (or both)-- a lentil salad, for example (I'm a vegetarian). This very delicate, almost not-there wine isn't it. I hate saying that about a Kirkland wine, too, as I always look forward to seeing what they track down, and had never been disappointed!
Editor says
Hi Maria, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. That's what this site and the comments are all about. I hope others can chime in with their thoughts as well. Thanks
Nancy Popenoe says
Maria has the "saddle" on the wrong rose. I just enjoyed a lunch of sweet sauteed chicken livers ,onions and steamed Brussel sprouts. This was my best pairing so far. The richness of the livers was complemented by this Cotes De Provence. A fun easy drinking Rose might be in order. Like Apothic Rose 2016 from California.
Maria Jette says
Nancy, I'm a longtime rosé fan, and appreciate its enormous range of styles-- I certainly didn't mean to imply that I was looking for "fun easy drinking Rose"-- although that is a wonderful thing in itself. I've had many, many (possibly too many!) Provençal rosés over the years, and they have their own wide range, from fuller and fruitier to austere, as I judged this one. The point I was trying to make is that Erin's description of this one as "sweet upfront" is the opposite of what I tasted! I'd be tempted to label it with an advisory note to those who still think all rosé is sweet, in fact-- this has zero sweetness, and I wouldn't call it "fruit-forward," either. I think it's a perfectly decent wine-- just not much discernible flavor, or character. There are more interesting and flavorful other Mediterranean rosès in that price range which I'd choose before this one.
Audrey says
We bought one bottle before reading your review. I've been trying various Côtes du Rhône and Côtes de Provence rosés at Costco since our trip to Provence and Côte d'Azur last summer where that was what the locals were drinking, and we sampled a lot. This one really brought back some memories. Went back to get more and fortunately there were still a few left.
Are you going to review the 2014 Cuvee A'Dair Sancerre any time soon?
Editor says
Thanks for the note. The Kirkland Rose did fly off the shelves just about everywhere I think.
We reviewed the Cuvée a'dair Sancerre a while back and really enjoyed it as well. Here's a link to that review. http://costcowineblog.com//2011-cuvee-adair-sancerre/
Audrey says
Yes, thanks. I had found and read the 2011 review, which is why I am curious what you think of the 2014 in comparison.
Editor says
Cool. I'll be looking for it now
Editor says
Cool. I'll be looking for it. Let.