Cimson Aroma Newsletter

Epicurean Newsletter about Wine, Art, and Food!

May 08 | Volume 14

It is May and it feels like summer already! Not to worry: we thought we would adapt and pretend it was summer then with a program which will make you travel to the south of France:

Our featured interview is with the now famous and very fine winemaker from Provence Henri Milan from Domaine Milan about going Organic. Nature is powerful Henri told us! We offer a guide to the best quality rosé wines in France, and next month it will be all about the best Italian rosé. But we thought we would start with a new range of tasting themes this month: Seasonal Wines. How about some summer wines?

Have a very good month!

Olivier Bourseau, MD

Part 1 - New Range of Tasting Themes - Seasonal Wines

Discover the 4 seasons again with their novelties and specificities: we will select the best seasonal wines depending on which season you are in currently and match them with seasonal food too! A fantastic theme covering the topics of body and structure of wines especially.

Spring: The best sauvignon blancs and viogniers for whites; and the exuberant and spicy Shiraz and Mourvèdre from the Old World for the reds will be perfect.

Summer: Fruity and light, but intense is what is required here…Whites from Chenin Blanc, Gruner Vetliner or Riesling; reds (not too much structure needed) from Beaujolais, Loire or even Burgundy, along with the best rosé wines from the South of France and Champagne rosé for the Sparklers!

Autumn: Older wines from Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from Burgundy for instance to match with the seasonal mushrooms! And the dry and mineral Rieslings from Mosel, and non-oaked chardonnay such as Chablis to match with the best seafood available!

Winter: Fuller bodied, structured and complex wines will be the theme. From Spanish reds from Priorat or Ribera del Duero to Barossa Shiraz and Californian Cabernet Sauvignon… And the great whites from Rhône and Friuli in Italy!

More tasting themes here...

Part 2 - Interview - Henri Milan - Winemaker at Domaine Milan

Henri Milan is a true passionate winemaker: he studied law but later on, made the conscious decision of becoming a winemaker because of his passion for wine. Now Henri is not your usual winemaker. He decided to go organic, and his tremendous wines are a testimony that if you are true to your land, it will reward you greatly.

Henri explained to us that the impacts of being organic are truly significant on aromas, taste, and aging ability of his wines compared to non-organic wines. Forget the chemicals, nature is powerful says Henri…

Read the intervew here.

Part 3 - Recommended Wine Estates - Rosé Wines - Part 1

Now is the perfect time to prepare for the summer season and start looking at rosé wines. And why is that? Because they are the perfect summer wines: they can be drunk cold and are a good alternative to whites in terms of taste and aromas. Now rosé wines have got bad reputation as can be seen as under-flavoured wines with high degree of alcohol. This is completely wrong, as for any wines, there are some bad ones but also some very good ones too, and a good chunk of decent to good ones. But where to look for in terms of the best quality rosé wines with fine aromatics, and good structure? This month we start with French rosé and our selection of some of the best in France – And stay tuned as next month we will report on the best Italian rosé!

France – Bandol in Provence (Grape varieties: Mourvèdre predominatly with Grenache, and Cinsault, used alone or blended). Fantastic rose wines from the tiny Bandol appellation also famous for its red wines. Spicy rosé and beautiful structure from the muscular and energetic Mourvèdre.
Domaine Tempier; Château de Pibarnon; Domaine du Gros Noré; Domaine de Terrebrune; Domaine d’Ott.

France – Tavel in Southern Rhône (Grape varieties: Grenache predominantly, and usually blended with others such as Cinsault, Syrah, Clairette, Mourvèdre). A rounder and fuller-bodied rosé than Bandol for instance, thanks to the Grenache varietal which provides higher alcohol. Not less complex though.
Domaine de la Mordorée; Domaine Guigal; Château de Ségriès; Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine.

About the Crimson Aroma Newsletter

Please email your feedback or questions to info@crimsonaroma.com.