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A Search For the Most Expensive Rosé Wine in the World

By Michael Hepworth

I was not aware that almost 85% of the wines from the idyllic region of Provence were in fact Rosé  These wines are used as a welcoming tool for friends and visitors alike, and are made for sharing. The grape growing tradition in the region dates back thousands of years, and although certain Provencal wines have a solid worldwide reputation, others remain an undiscovered secret.

If you think that Rosé is an uninspiring wine for food pairings then think again. The versatile wine goes perfect with seafood, lamb, pasta and Asian food, and in the right circumstances can blend with such items as pork with orange sauce and goat’s cheese. I checked out just two different wineries over an intense 2 week period, and came up with the following observations. The experience has also permanently changed my perception about Rose.

There are literally hundreds of vineyards from the landscape around Ax-en-Provence to the Riviera city of Nice stretching 200 kilometers from east to west, and it blends in to create a unique way of life. The warm dry climate is helped by the Mistral, which deters disease and promotes healthy vineyards. There are15 different grape varieties, with each one receiving separate vinifying, and then blending each variety to create balanced wines.

France produces 28% of the world’s Rose, and 40% of that emanates from Provence. The most common Provence rose varieties are Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Tibouren, Carignam and Cabernet Sauvignon in that order. Production each year equals 130 million bottles from 462 outlets (mainly private cellars).

These are the hard facts and one prime example of a top Rosé from Provence would be the wines from Chateau D’Esclans, a famous 700 acre estate located 30 minutes north of St. Tropez. This winery produces the most expensive rose wines in the world. Owner Sacha Alexis Lichine moved there from Bordeaux where he ran his fathers vineyards until 2006. His father was known as the “pope of wine” so he always had big shoes to fill. Recruiting winemaker Patrick Leon from Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was also a smart move, and he makes the wines from free-run juice fermented in 500-litre Burgundy oak barrels.

He has taken Chateau D’Esclans to another level, and according to spokesman Paul Chevalier, “Most people around the world think that Rose wines are like the other “pinks” such as white zinfandel (sweet and sugary) and are mistaken for a starter wine.”
This range is by far the most sought after Rosé in the world, but once you try this stuff you will never go elsewhere. Creamy and full of subtle spices, it also packs a bit of a punch.

Lichine, obviously a marketing genius, used a Studio 54 jetsetter approach to sell the first batches, and then in 2007 it suddenly popped up in the Hamptons. Now Miami has hooked on to the Rosé boom, and the easiest D’Esclans wine to be found at $19.99 is the Whispering Angel. Other versions such as the Esclans 2007 ($35) are light and fruity with a hint of strawberry, and the Les Clans ($60) is an intense and elegant wine with a hint of raspberry and spice. Absolute top of the line is the Garrus Rose ($100) available only at premium wine stores and expensive gourmet restaurants.

If your budget is a bit tighter then you might want to search out the Rosé wines from L’Estandon winery situated in Brignoles in the center of the Provence region. The area consists of shallow and alluvial soil and the wines can be purchased for around $10. A winery since 1947, these wines are also relatively new to the U.S. market and are perfect for the summer months and are much easier to track down than the high end versions from Chateau D’Esclans.
www.winesofprovence.com
By Michael Hepworth

​
What exactly is GRAND BRULOT I thought to myself as I opened the bottle for the first time just around the time this lockdown took effect. Well, Grand Brulot is listed as a VSOP Cognac Café and it can be used in Bloody Mary’s, Manhattans, Negronis, Martinis, spritzes and sidecars , just for starters. It is a blend of Ugni Blanc & Colombard that is crafted into 80 proof VSOP. Then 100% Robusta Ecuadorian coffee bean essence is extracted and blended with brandy to meld for a few months and finally, it is blended with the VSOP Cognac. There is also a whiff of peppermint, nutmeg and hot cocoa in the drink. The retail price is $42.99.

The idea for the drink was instigated in 2015 by John Bernbach who asked for the help of industry veteran Francisco Tonarely to investigate the potential of a cognac/brandy drink blended with coffee. Three year later in August 2018 Grand Brulot was launched. This cognac comes from the Tardy Cognac Group and the grapes come from its single estate. Grand Brulot also plays homage to a New Orleans specialty of the same name that is still served around town.  The name Grand Brulot was inspired by the famous French pirate Jean Lafite who helped New Orleans repel the British invaders in 1812. He would order coffee, pour cognac in the saucer, set it alight and mix it with the coffee.
Recipes:

THE RISE AND SHINE
2 oz Grand Brulot
Orange Twist

Just pour Grand Brulot over ice and the orange will highlight the flavors
of the spirit.

BRULOT BLACK MANHATTAN
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
3 dashes Orange Bitters

Bartender Todd Smith created this one. Stir all the ingredients together in
a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with ice and garnish

with orange wheel.

FRENCH NEGRONI
1 oz Grand Brulot
1 oz  Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Campari

Build in a rocks glass over ice and garnish w/orange wheel.

GRAND BRULOT CAFÉ HOLIDAY
1 oz Grand Brulot
0.5 oz Crème de Cacao
3 oz Porter Beer or Stout
3 dashes of bitters

Throw cocktail ingredients between two cups a couple of times to mix
And ignite the foam from the beer. Pour into a highball glass over ice
And garnish with nutmeg.



www.grandbrulot.com
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