The Wine Idiot Reviews: Les Portes de Bordeaux Rosé, 2014 ($5.99)
So here's the deal, readers. I bought a bottle of this, took some decent photos, enjoyed the wine...and lost the tasting notes. So I had to buy another bottle to take notes and write an accurate review. HAD. TO. Because I owe it to YOU, dear readers.
But it does say something, I think, that I didn't just say OH FUCK IT and just call this one a wash. I actually enjoyed this enough that I purchased (and drank) another whole bottle. Right?
ANYWAY.
This smells like strawberries. Just straight-up strawberries. But then when you drink it, it's on the dry side--surprisingly there is very little sweetness, not at all what the "nose" would suggest. No particular flavor is overwhelming--there's a little strawberry, some melon, apple, a slight citrus tinge perhaps? But maybe that's starfruit I'm tasting--something tart but sparkly. Maybe you could describe this as the blandest fruit salad ever, but not in a particularly bad way. In a non-offensive way.
Let me tell you--lounging on a deck overlooking some wilderness at sunset, an intermittent gentle breeze kissing your cheeks while you sip this underneath a lemon tree does not suck. It's not the best rosé I've ever had but it's perfect for right now. LIKE SOME MEN, AM I RIGHT?? The finish is even clean, crisp, and quick HEY-OOOOOO!!!!
What the bottle says: Pas du tout. No description whatsoever.
What the Wine Idiot says: I mean, better to preserve the mystery I guess?
ABV: 12%
Who's responsible for this? "Mis en bouteille pour SVS...Imported by Latitude Wines, Inc. Danville, CA" That Latitude Wines again!!!
Do I need a corkscrew? You sure do. A helpful Google search suggests that the phrase printed on the corkscrew actually means, "bottled in our cellars."
What do smarter people say about it? Alyssa at Modern French says: "It’s officially summer in Southern California, and the only antidote to this perpetual heat is an ice-cold glass of rosé. My bottle of choice this summer is the Les Portes de Bordeaux Rosé. Crisp-tasting and more dry than sweet (a big plus in my book!), this good cheap wine goes for about $6 at Trader Joe’s. A few sniffs before drinking the wine reveals some strawberry and citrus notes, almost like a strawberry lemonade. On the mouth, it has a light raspberry taste with hints of watermelon and another blast of citrus. It’s a bit acidic at first but finishes round. In two words, it’s delightful and refreshing." I feel like Alyssa and I would be good friends.
Should I bring it to a friend's house? If your friend enjoys the magic of summer nights, cheap rosé, and your friendship, then yes.
