Last weekend was stellar. The sun was out. Both days! Neighbors were in their yards with rakes and pruners, my dog amused himself by diggin' holes, and I was smoking a cigar in my driveway. This is the time of year when we change our personal living habits. Lighter and fewer clothes, getting outside walking and socializing more, healthier eating choices, and looking forward to the lazy days of summer. And what says warm weather-fun better than a well-made rose wine? I want to underscore well-made rose because not all pink wines are the same. Often, a winery will throw together a blend with cheaper overripe grapes so they can jump on the rose bandwagon with a cheap, sweet, pink wine. The type of rose wine I want for the upcoming shorts-and-flip-flop days is made from robust grapes of complexity and high acid. These are not the flabby, high sugar, color-added wines that need to be drunk young because they fall apart quickly, but rather wines of the intensity of flavor and acid balance to make sure they will continue to hold up in the bottle, if not integrated more, over a year or so. The truth is these good roses taste better after a year because the wine melds into a perfect summer sipper. The great part about these wines is that you can find them at bargain prices because winemakers have rushed to market with their new vintages, releasing them before optimal drinking time and having to steeply discount the previous vintage. That is why I am very excited to present Jean Luc Colombo Cape Beaue Rose 2022, which may prove to be this year's hottest bargain. What normally sells for $12 a glass in restaurants, we are selling for half that price for a bottle.

Jean-Luc is a Rhone specialist who lives in Cornas. Initially a pharmacist, he and his wife did some wine consulting on the side and became one of the most respected names in Northern Rhone wine production. A man not short with words, he often had strong and sometimes contrarian opinions that irked the traditionalist winemakers in the area. Today, Jean-Luc is a sought-after consultant for over 100 wineries and an iconic winemaker of Syrah in the North. He has since branched out to the southern Rhone. An area he knows well; although he lives in the Northern Rhone, he was born in the Southern part of the Rhone Valley.

Jean-Luc Colombo's roots are in Marseille. He grew up spending many happy hours assisting his mother, the chef of a very popular restaurant in Southern France. It was in the hills above the bay of Marseille, next to Provence, that Jean-Luc, in 2003, found the perfect place to grow grapes destined for his rosé wine. The vines grow in calcareous (stony limestone) soils overlooking the blue coast, hence 'Cape Bleue.' The beautiful sights are renowned for inspiring many artists and writers, such as Cezanne and Zola, with their shimmering coastlines and stunning landscapes. You can't blame this winemaker for feeling much of the same inspiration. To say this wine is a work of art may be a stretch, but it does come from a good place in the sun. 

The vineyards have light, stony limestone soil and are located at the North of Aix-en-Provence, near the city of Salon-de-Provence. The area has a Mediterranean climate and vegetation (thyme, lavender, oaks, pine trees) with maritime influences. The 2022 vintage was harvested in mid-August (earlier than previous years). Despite the heat and water stress, the fruit was healthy and plentiful and overall reflected a good vintage. Berries were small and produced a concentrated expression of Syrah and Mourvèdre. The traditional "saignée" (meaning to bleed off) method is used, undergoing a 10-hour cold soak until the desired color is achieved, and then tanks are drained of all juice. Fermentation occurred at low temperatures in stainless steel vats for three weeks, preserving primary aromas and bottled immediately after to preserve freshness.

Pale pink color. The wine has a bouquet of watermelon, peach, and floral accents. The palate has lively acidity and a medium-bodied texture with a hint of Mediterranean herbs. A wonderful reflection of a dry, Provençal Rosé.

67% Syrah, 33% Mourvèdre

Composed of Syrah and Mourvèdre, this rosé sits pretty in the glass with flecks of rose gold. An expressive nose transports you to the Mediterranean coast with a fresh lilac bouquet, watermelon, peach, wild thyme, and rose petals. Brisk acidity complements a fleshy texture and adds length to its saline, stony finish. A versatile summer companion that can hold its own from first to last course Best Buy. Wine Enthusiast 90 pts

Jean Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé 2022

I had quite the crowd gathered to taste this wine. Why? Because it may just be Yankee Spirits' buy of the year. Also, it is the kind of rose that our wine geeks look for, in this case, a Syrah-based, Southern Rhone, dry rose with good acidity with a bit of age for the big flavors to calm down and integrate. The fact that it is $6 a bottle with no hoops to jump through has good times written all over it. It pours with a bright salmon color. Aromas and flavors of strawberry-rhubarb pie, ripe pomelo, watermelon rind, and cranberry, all integrated and balanced by crisp acidity. Think Sweet Tarts. Dena, who knows Rose, says this is spectacular and the buy of the year. The staff is already taking a lot of this home. At this point, I can get more till someone else finds out how great of a deal this is. With good acidity and balance, you can enjoy this easy-to-drink rosé with everything fun: pizza, hot dogs, burgers, and salads, pretty much everything that puts a smile on your face. Let the stampede begin, and someone please pull Dena down off the ceiling.

Regular Price: $10.99

*Sale Price is on 12 bottle purchase

 Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.

Cheers!

John Hannum,

Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

Attleboro

628 Washington St.

Norwood

942 Providence Hgwy.

Sturbridge

376 Main Street.

Swansea

207 Swansea Mall Dr.

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