Remember how much I liked the delicious Fleurs de Prairie Languedoc Rosé that I told you about in the previous issue? Guess what: This week’s featured wine, La Bernarde “Les Hauts du Luc” Côtes de Provence Rosé, is even better.
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La Bernarde is imported by Skurnik Wines of New York City, one of the handful of U.S. importers whose portfolio I find so trustworthy that I’ll grab a wine off the shelf on the basis of their name on the label alone.
What’s so more, it’s a rosé from Provence, the lovable region of Southern France that’s widely regarded as a consistent source of the world’s best rosé wines. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting down to an alfresco meal in the Provence countryside or a sidewalk café table in Avignon with a glass of rosé in your hand, you won’t need me to convince you that this is true.
Rows of lavender grow around La Bernarde’s Provence winery. (Photo from Skurnik WInes.)
Next time in Provence I’d love to visit La Bernarde. Skurnik’s loving description of the property and its wine makes the importer’s affection obvious. Here’s the report on Skurnik’s web page:
“There may be no wine region on Earth that is more picturesque than Provence. This ruggedly beautiful region in the South of France produces what many people consider to be the standard for rosé in the world, along with some gorgeously perfumed and layered whites and reds. In the village of Luc, in the heart of the Côte d’Azur, La Bernarde and their organically farmed, traditionally made wines are quietly staking their claim as one of the finest in this famed region.”
“La Bernarde is an historic certified organic property in the Côtes de Provence appellation. The winery and their vineyards sit on a rocky limestone hillside at about 300 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest properties in the entire region. The cooler micro-climate of this area – it snows most winters! – allows them to make the kind of rosé we dream of, yet so rarely find; crisp, mineral-laced, bright-fruited, and with the complexity to drink on its own or with a variety of light or grilled fare. … This oasis of limestone and cool temperatures that La Bernarde finds itself in is an incredible asset, as it sets them apart from many of the domaines that sit in the hot, low-lying flatlands near St. Tropez.”
I sat with this wine on its own and then over a simple risotto lunch and marveled at its complexity and balance. Layer after layer of aroma and flavor revealed itself in turn: red berries, tangerine, lime zest, and an intriguing back note of stony minerality, on a base that’s firm and refreshing but not painfully tart. It makes a delicious apertif and a fine food wine, at very fair price in the teens. I highly recommend this wine. If you can’t find it locally, you should be able to find a shop that will ship to you at this Wine-Searcher link.
You’ll find my tasting notes below.
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Today’s Tasting Report
La Bernarde 2021 “Les Hauts du Luc” Côtes de Provence Rosé ($18.99)
La Bernarde “Les Hauts du Luc” Côtes de Provence Rosé is a typical Provence blend of certified organic Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rolle, and Syrah grapes. Fresh and delicious, it is an exceptional rosé with an appetizing, fresh and complex aroma of red berries, tangerine, and lime zest. Mouth-filling and fresh, its red-berry flavors and stony minerality that linger in a very long finish. 13% alcohol. U.S. importer: Skurnik Wines, NYC. (June 9, 2022)
FOOD MATCH: Its subtle but distinct flavors were delicious with a dish made to match, green risotto loaded with onions, garlic, and chives, celery and green peppers and a broth made of all those things.
WHEN TO DRINK: It won’t fall apart any time soon, but its delicious, subtle freshness will never be better than it is right now. Drink up!
VALUE:
This excellent rosé is well worth its price in the upper teens price. which is consistent with Wine-Searcher.com’s $16 average U.S. retail price for the 2021 vintage.
WEB LINK:
Here’s a link to importer Skurnik’s fact sheet.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for La Bernarde “Les Hauts du Luc” Côtes de Provence Rosé on Wine-Searcher.com.
Wine-Searcher’s link to “crisp and dry rosés” will lead you to dozens of other good, dry, pink wines primarily from Provence and Languedoc.
Wine Focus June 2022: Rosé All Day!
International Rosé Day is June 24, so we are going pink for the entire month. Rosé from anywhere is part of the Focus. Provence, California, South Africa, Colorado, New York, Spain, Italy, wherever, even Champagne. Rosé is s warm=weather and outdoor-dining friendly. If it gets too hot outside, just put an extra chill on it.
Join the conversation in Rosé All Day month, June 2022!
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Good wines we’ve tried under $10.99!
Want tips to still more good, inexpensive wines? Here are Wine-Searcher links to vendors and prices for a bunch more wines for $10.99 or less that I’ve told you about in recent years. In some cases the prices may have risen over the $10.99 mark since I reviewed them, but they should still be excellent bargains. Please tell us about your favorites!
- Laroque Cité de Carcassonne
- Famille Perrin 2019 “La Vielle Ferme” Rouge ($7.99)
- Querceto 2019 Chianti ($10.99)
- Porto Kopke Fine Ruby and Tawny Port ($9.99/375ml)
- La Fiera 2016 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($8.99)
- La Vieille Ferme Vin de France Rosé ($8.99)
- La Fiera Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($8.99)
- Laroque Cité de Carcassonne Cabernet Franc ($9.99)
- Domaine de Pouy 2016 Côtes de Gascogne ($7.99)
- Alamos Mendoza Malbec ($9.99)
- Caposaldo Chianti ($8.99)
- d’Arenberg McLaren Vale “The Stump Jump” ($9.99)
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