The Story
The 90+ Cellars Languedoc Rose’ Lot 33 2018 is an AOC designated wine sourced from grapes from several vineyards located in the foothills of the Cevennes Mountains in the Languedoc region of south central France. The grapes used in the blend are Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, which are some of the best Red grapes from the area. You often see French wines in this price range classified as IGP or Vin de Pays wines, which are wines from this local that didn’t adhere to all the rules and regulations of the governing commission, those are AOC wines. There is nothing wrong or unusual about IGP/Vin de Pays wines, there are a hundred legitimate reasons for not conforming to the rules, especially with value priced wine. But it is a good sign to see AOC on the label, it does insure a certain level of quality.
90+ Cellars are negotiants, that is a French term for a wine merchant who purchases wine from established wineries and sells the wine under their own label. The wine in question is usually excess or left-over wine, the negociant can negotiate (so that is where the name comes from) a good price. Because they pay cash, up front, and since the negotiants wine is less expensive and under a completely different label, the wine does not directly complete with the original bottling. When 90+ Cellars first started they only purchased excess wine that had recently been awarded 90 plus points by a major wine publication. While they still do that to some level they are now more concerned with good wine than good points. The concept is that you are buying an excellent wine from a reputable winery at a greatly reduced price, you just don’t know which winery. The alcohol content is a mild 12.5%.
The Tasting Notes
The color is pink with an apricot tint. The nose is very floral, with ripe apple, lime, Meyer lemon, Bosc pear, faint pineapple, tropical fruit, and vanilla. This Rose’ is dry, with good structure, it has a bit of weight on the palate, with a mix of tart and fruit flavors. It starts with tart, slightly acidic melon, lemon, green apple, and peach. The mid-palate offers soft spice, strawberry, black cherry, a salty sensation and sweetened lemonade. The acidity is slightly subdued, it does not bite and allows the 90+ Cellars Languedoc Rose’ Lot 33 to be an excellent patio sipper. The finish is full for a Rose’ and does stick around for awhile.
The Summary
- The 90+ Cellars Languedoc Rose’ Lot 33 2018 is a grown-up adult Rose’, no fluffy cotton candy flavors, the structure is as solid as the flavors. Just like a good respectable French wine should.
- When looking for an excellent value-priced Rose’, it is hard to go wrong with Rose’ from southern France. They have been making Rose’ long enough to really know what they are doing.
- The more I sip this Rose’, the more I like it, it pulls you in.
