Holiday Wine Review: Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé

Drink this Rosé for the Holidays…or anytime!

The holidays are a time to enjoy family, friends, good food and good wine.  It is always nice to bring a crowd-pleasing wine to a party or provide the ideal wine and food pairing when you host.  So, what do you bring?  Red? White? Bubbly?  How about a rosé?

Despite the fact that rosé is believed to be the quintessential summer drink, it also makes for a good sip throughout the year and during the holidays.  Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé is one worthy of consideration.

The Cotes De Provence region, located in Southeast France, is home to huge wine-growing region. There are three major AOC designations, with Côtes de Provence being the largest.  Provence produces wines from a large variety of grapes, including those with Italian, Spanish and Greek origin. Nevertheless, the region is predominantly known for it’s rosé wines.  Estandon, regards their region as a “rich and diverse appellation, which gives our vineyards a great diversity of terroirs, whether located by the sea, on the vast plains of the Centre Var or on the slopes further inland. These terroirs, so rich in their differences, impart a typical character to the wines.” Here’s the rosé we tasted:

Estandon France

The Wining Hour Review: Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé
Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé is made up of percentages or cépages of several varietals: Cinsault, Grenache , Rolle and Syrah.  The grapes are harvested from the best terroirs of the Côtes de Provence A.O.C., including the schist and loam soils in the Maures mountains, the hilltop slopes near Flayosc, the clay-limestone slopes of the commune of Le Thoronet and the variegated sandstone soil of the Cannet des Maures commune.  The grapes used in Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé are mainly harvested by machine and underwent a very short maceration on the skins before pressing. Malolactic fermentation is prevented, and vinification, or fermentation takes place traditionally in temperature-controlled stainless steel barrels.

Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé is pale pink and greets with aromas of peach, pear and melon.  The nose on this wine prepares the palate for a dry, fruity blend of white peach, melon and strawberry. Fresh, light, crisp, refreshing and well-balanced, with perfect acidity.  13% ABV.

Estandon Côtes de Provence Rosé is an easy-drinking wine, and would be great as an aperitif, or to accompany a variety of holiday dishes, from appetizers and small plates to the main course.  It would certainly pair nicely with turkey, chicken, salads, pasta, crabcakes, oysters, clams, a seafood medley and Mediterranean cuisine.

Estandon is certainly an age-worthy rosé, and definitely one to be shared around the holidays or any time.

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