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WINE OF THE WEEK, April 21, 2013


WHISPERING ANGEL ROSE 2012 COTES DE PROVENCE FRANCE $16.99


We're in the process of increasing the number of Rose wines for the warmer weather. Maybe it's just me, but heavy red wines just don't seem to go down too easily when it's hot out; the taste of alcohol, rather than being integrated, is too pronounced and lingers in the mouth. Historically, Rose wines were syrupy sweet - spine-rattlingly sweet - which turned off most wine drinkers. The preferred Rose wine now is light in body; dry, not sweet; fruity, not sweet. The liquid is not allowed to remain for long with the skins, seeds, and stems; it doesn't touch wood. The resulting color is pink. I recently had a fillet of salmon; I invariably pair salmon with a Pinot Noir. This time I tried a good Rose. The result was marvelous!  Whispering Angel is a blend of five red grapes: Grenache and Syrah (which is typical of the Cotes de Provence in the southeastern area of France), Rolle, Cinsault, and Mourvedre. Speaking of salmon, this wine is pale-salmon in color, with the taste of fresh strawberry fruit, and with a long finish. By the way, you may have noticed the increasing number of wines with silly names and silly labels. In the end, if a wine is good, it will sell itself. Whispering Angel is a very good wine.