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The Kirkland Signature Cotes de Provence Rosé 2022 is a $7.99 Costco exclusive. It is produced for Costco by Oliver Sumeire (winemaker) for Famille Sumeire a winemaking family with roots in Provence that go back to the 1200s, though the history of the modern wine business dates to the 1880s. The Cotes de Provence is the largest winemaking district in Provence producing about 75% of Provence Rosé wines.
The Kirkland Signature Cotes de Provence Rosé 2022 is a blend of 37% Grenache, 29% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 7% Carignan, 7% Tibouren, 6% Vermentino, and 4% Ugni Blanc. Rosé wines are usually made from Red grapes, but the last two grapes in the blend are White grapes. The pink color is created when the skins of the grapes are removed from the juice a couple of hours after the grapes are crushed.
Red wines have much longer grape skin contact with the juice. With Rosé wine the shortened contact period does not allow the grape skins to impart its natural chemicals (tannins) into the juice. The tannins can mask subtle grape flavors in Red wine and those flavors can shine thru in Rosé wine.
Provence (in the south of France) is the oldest wine region in France, they have found records of wine production older than 2300 years. They are the only French wine region that specializes in Rosé. The alcohol content is fairly hefty, for a Rosé, 13%.
The Kirkland Signature Cotes de Provence Rosé 2022 Tasting Notes
The color is cotton candy pink. The nose is ripe crisp apple, strawberry, tropical fruit, roses, peach, and pineapple. The Kirkland Signature Cotes de Provence Rosé 2022 is a nicely complex, delicate wine.
This Rosé tastes like grapefruit, lemon, apple, peach, and pear. The mid-palate adds chewy apricot, melon, black cherry, soft spice, a creamy sensation, and tart, slightly sour cranberry. The acidity does its job well and provides good length.
The Summary
- The Kirkland Signature Cotes de Provence Rosé 2022 is a terrific bargain at $7.99.
- It tastes wonderful and has enough body to pair with shrimp cocktails, spicey Thai, and fish recipes.
