The Ile de Conas Le Rosé 2020 is a $7.99 Trader Joe’s wine. It looks like this Rosé is sold as Paul Mas Le Rosé outside of the US and as Ile de Conas at TJ’s. Ile de Conas is the name of the Paul Mas Estate near the village of Conas, which is located west of Marseilles and north of the Spanish border in the Languedoc region of southeast France.
This Rosé is a blend of 25% Pinot Gris, 25% Grenache Noir, Caladoc, 15% Pinot Pris, and 15% Cinsault. This wine has excellent packaging; the bottle is silk-screened with flowers found on the estate, and the enclosure is a glass top. No cork.
My local Trader Joe’s has had a shrinking wine department for months, no new releases and dwindling staple wines, but my last visit offered more new wines than I had seen in eight months. Hopefully, the Covid and supply issues are working themselves out.
The Ile de Conas Le Rosé 2020 would have been a very welcome wine in June 2021, but all things considered, it still works well in December 2021. Often we know nothing about the who, what, and where of Trader Joe’s wines, but Paul Mas wines are a known commodity.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Paul Mas Estates French WInery of the Year for 2021. They have extensive holdings in the Languedoc and plenty of know-how in making quality wine.
The grapes used in the blend may not be familiar to some wine drinkers, but they are common in the Languedoc. If you sample a French wine, you do not want the wine “Americanized.” The overall flavor profile should be familiar yet different. The alcohol content is 12.5%.
The Ile de Conas Le Rosé 2020 Tasting Notes
The Ile de Conas Le Rosé 2020 is very easy-to-drink (it should never be hard to drink); soft, balanced flavors and textures have bright acidity. The color is Barbie Doll pink with just a hint of orange. The nose is clean and crisp; there are light scents of lemon, honey, red berries, a touch of cream, and flowers.
This Rosé tastes like a stew of honey, pear, and lemon, followed by cherry and tart cranberry. The mid-palate adds melon, a salty sensation, and raspberry hard candy (not sweet). The acidity is well-balanced; it allows the flavors to unfold and beckons you to take the next sip.
The Summary
- The Ile de Conas Le Rosé 2020 is an excellent bargain, the packaging alone is worth $7.99, the excellent Rosé is the bonus.
- I figure any wine that features the winemakers first Estate in the name and shows the flowers that are the symbal of the Estate silk-screened on the bottle is going to be a wine is made with skill and care.
- You can spend more for a Rosé but it will be hard to beat the Ile de Conas Le Rosé 2020.
