Staff Selections

Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Rose 2020 

Loire Valley, France 

Brought to us by: Kermit Lynch|Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. 

Regular: $24.99 

TWS Sale: $19.99 

The 600 mile stretch of the Loire River and its tributaries encompass an incredibly varied and intriguing array of wine producing areas known as the Loire Valley. From the maritime region of Nantes (think Oysters and Muscadet), through the heart of the Loire where Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc reign supreme, to Sancerre and Pouilly Fume where Sauvignon Blanc thrives in its minerally glory, and finally to Auvergne where you may find your favorite Gamay: the Loire Valley is endlessly delicious. 

For my rose pick, I’ve chosen a bottling from Domaine Charles Joguet - a well-known name in Chinon, an appellation along the Vienne River known for its red wine production. Primarily comprised of Cabernet Franc (often referred to locally as Breton) grown in the sandy limestone “tuffeau” soil covered with crushed rock, wines from this region shine because of their beautiful, silky, fragrant style and tangy acidity. 

The 2020 Chinon Rose from Joguet is produced by direct press of 100% Cabernet Franc grapes. Fermentation occurs at a low temperature in stainless steel tanks, allowing for more delicate aromatics to shine through and preserving the fresh, zippy fruit flavors characteristic of the pink-hued wines from Chinon. The nose is particularly expressive – raspberry, cardamom, strawberry, and blood orange come to mind, and the palate shows the addition of cantaloupe and tangerine, a round mouthfeel, and bright acidity. Juicy and thirst quenching but also distinctive and reflective of its alluvial home, this wine represents what I truly love about rose – that it can be simply drunk up and enjoyed, or it can be ruminated over, and in either case consumed alongside something grilled. 

-Lauren Loeffler

Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli Rosado

Getariako Txakolina, Basque, Spain

Brought to us by: Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. 

Regular: $24.99 

TWS Sale: $19.99 

Five years ago, our wine team would have found it unbelievable that one of our most sought after and beloved categories of rose would be those from the tiny Basque region of Spain. High-quality, dry rosé was commonly associated with France alone (especially Provence, so it has been a pleasure to watch the well-deserved rise in popularity of Txakoli wine.

Txakoli is an unusual style: bright, tart, and low alcohol, showing a pronounced minerality and usually a very faint amount of bubbles or slight carbonation. This is a natural sparkle, obtained by bottling just after fermentation has finished, but before the bubbles produced from that fermentation have subsided. The rise of Txakoli epitomizes a trend of the last few years in which people have sought out bright, fresh, acidic wines with lower alcohol. And for good reason! Not only are these the most food friendly wines, (think Champagne) but they are often casual, well-priced, and easy drinking while remaining interesting and complex.

The 2020 Txomin Etxaniz rosé is a gorgeous shade of salmon fading to a watermelon juice rim. The aromas are of cranberry, redcurrant, rhubarb, red plums, and wet stone. Even if the wine were not slightly sparkling, it would taste alive and zipping with energy. Some wines are so well balanced (think of the best Riesling or Chenin Blanc you have ever had) that they feel lively and almost kinetic. Your taste buds are experiencing such diverse textures simultaneously that the wine seems to be in motion as you taste. In the case of the Txomin Txakoli rose, it is the contrast between a slightly rich body (due to some lees contact) and the beautiful palate-cleansing classic Txakoli acidity that creates this delicious sense of aliveness on the palate. It makes you reach for another glass and something to munch - preferably a plate of tapas (or pintxos!). On the palate, the flavors include: tart red cherry, watermelon jolly-rancher, redcurrant, red apple-skin, and red plum.

This rose is produced by the Txomin Etxaniz family in the tiny beachside town of Getaria. (Literally made for the beach!) The family is one of the modern pioneers of Txakoli and helped start the Getariako-Txakolina appellation. The bottle is made from the traditional native grapes: 60% Hondarrabi Beltza (red), and 40% Hondarrabi Zuri, (white). It is 11% alcohol, $19.99 a bottle, and ready for summer.

-Kasimir Bujak

Ippolito Mabilia Cirò rosato

2020

Cirò, Calabria, Italy.

Brought to us by: Cantiniere Imports

Regular: $19.99

TWS Sale: $15.99

Deep in southern Italy along the Calabrian coastline, the small town of Cirò makes some of the most historic wine in the world. Here, winemaking tradition goes back nearly 3,000 years to when the Romans would present ancient Olympic victors with wines from Cirò. The wines from this DOC are the most well regarded of Calabria but the reality is that this region has fallen behind in prestige when compared to its counterparts to the north. People are often drawn to the familiarity of Tuscany and Piedmont, but I implore you to explore some of these forgotten gems of Italian wine.

Ippolito’s Mabilia draws its name from Mabel Hautville of Apulia. She was the Countess of Barcelona and the daughter of the Norman warrior princess Sikelgaita. Why should we care? Well, she lived in Cirò for a large portion of her life. Ippolito is a leader in the preservation of the history of Calabria, while advancing the region to become a leader in the wine and food industry! In addition to grapes, the family grows olives and oranges on their estate. They are committed to the usage of indigenous grapes from the area and their rosé is no different. 95% of the production in the DOC is red wine and rosés are very rare.

Ippolito use the ancient grape Gaglioppo with skin contact of less than three hours and fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The resultant wine is a pale, onion skin pink with exceptionally fresh aromatics. The pour presents a nose that leaps out of the glass with aromas of fresh cut roses, wild strawberry, and red cherry. The palate brings persistent acidity with a balanced mouthfeel. I got fresh peaches and ballpark lemonade as the refreshing flavors crashed over my taste buds. A wildly satisfying wine at great value; every sip is fit for an Olympic champion…or someone just hanging out on their porch.

-Jake Groenke

Domaine Fontsainte Gris de Gris rosé

2020

Corbières, Languedoc-Rousillon, France

Brought to us by: Kermit Lynch|Prestige-Ladroit Destributing Co.

Regular: $18.99

TWS Sale: $14.99

The Gris De Gris Rose from Domaine Fontsainte is one of my favorite rosés every year, and the 2020 vintage is certainly no exception. This wine comes from the Corbieres region in South-West France, where the aromas/flavors are more concentrated and frankly more interesting than most of the similarly-priced Provence Rose wines. This wine is 90% Grenache Gris with 5% each of Carignan and Mourvedre. It features red fruit flavors/aromas of Cherries and Strawberries with subtle notes of melon, citrus and flowers. Enjoy this rosé with a variety of dishes including Salmon, Salads, Pork BBQ and Thai Cuisine.

The first vineyards at Domaine de Fontsainte, in the Corbières appellation, were planted by the Romans. Artifacts found in these vineyards, such as an old coin dating from the time of Marcus Agrippa in 25 A.D., are a testament to its antiquity. The original domaine was built around a thermal spring, which was later named for the local, twelfth-century patron saint, Saint Siméon; hence Fontsainte—the saint’s fount. Yves Laboucarié’s family has been making wine here since the seventeenth century.

For over forty years, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant has been proudly importing his wine, and now works with his son, Bruno. Like his father, one of the first vignerons working with whole cluster fermentation in the region, he believes strongly in the family’s legacy of innovation. He has re-equipped the cellars, replanted new vines, and even added new cuvées. The Fontsainte vineyards surround the hamlet of Boutenac in the area known as “The Golden Crescent.” This swath of land is one of the sunniest in the appellation of Corbières, enjoying south-southeast exposure, and protection from the cold, northeast winds by a large 500-hectare forest. The cooler sea breezes from the Mediterranean help this sun-soaked terroir achieve balance as well. Like many of the vignerons that we work with, Bruno believes that “great wines are made in the vineyard” and less in the cellars. He farms the land sustainably and keeps treatments to a minimum.

-Danny Zetlmeisl

Garális Retsina of Lemnos rosé

Lemnos, Greece

Brought to us by: Comete Wines

Regular: $14.99

TWS Sale: $12.99

Retsina has classically been a wine to avoid.  Retsina comes from an ancient practice of sealing clay pots with pine resin to make them water tight.  Over time when modern wine making methods were introduced and pine resin was no longer needed, Greeks lamented the resin-y taste their wines used to have, so started re-introducing the resin back into their wine.  Typically, a flabby thin greek white wine would have Aleppo pine tree resin added to override the dullness to create a highly pungent white, tasting like pine needles and licorice.

Now there is new life into this ancient wine method.  Garalis of Lemnos makes a natural and biodynamic retsina with a base of muscat of alexandria (the only white grape to grow on the island) with a small percent of limnia.  Garalis has extensive skin contact which creates a magical combination with the hint of Aleppo Pine Resin added.  It makes the retsina bright and cheerful, with notes of juicy grapefruit, watermelon, and mint, with softer notes of rosemary, black tea, and thyme, balanced with soft peach-fuzz tannins.  I’d recommend drinking these ice cold (or even on ice!) with summer fruit platters, hot dogs, bonfires, and a fresh pair of sandals.  

-Andrew Thorp

Old Westminster x The Wine Source

Respite Rosé 2020

Regular: $19.99

TWS Sale: $15.99

Our first wine collaboration is the breakout hit of the summer! Old Westminster continues to raise the bar for local wineries. Historically, Maryland wineries have been trapped in the doldrums of pale, insipid Bordeaux imitations. However, Old Westminster has placed an increasing emphasis on experimentation with interesting new varietals and reviving antiquated vinification practices. With a focus on minimal intervention, Old Westminster is leading the charge in interesting, locally-produced Natural wines.

Respite 2020 rosé is produced with 100% Chambourcin from a single vineyard site. Chambourcin is a fairly young varietal in the grand scheme of things: only commercially available since the 1960s. Interestingly, Chambourcin is one of a handful of winemaking grapes to have red flesh, whereas the majority of red wine producing grapes have white flesh. In these cases, the color of the wine all comes from skin contact after pressing. However, Chambourcin's red flesh means that even a rosé of Chambourcin has a vibrant, neon-like intensity in the glass.

Don't let the garish hue fool you, this Chambourcin rose is powerful and fruity, but nonetheless totally dry. Beautiful aromas of wild strawberry and rhubarb. The palate is vibrant and lively, full-to-bursting with mouth-watering citrus and tart wild berry fruit. Juicy and fun, but with a crisp dry finish. What are you waiting for? Sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice, well-deserved Respite!

-Andrew Sayers

Lini Lambrusco

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Brought to us by: Winebow

Regular: $15.99

TWS Sale: $12.79

"Imagine if I never met the Broskies"

Drake's quote in God's Plan is how I feel about the Lini Lambrusco lineup, and Drake and Rose go together like grower Champagne and oysters (a subject for another day). The Lini rose is bright, lively, and jumping out of the glass with hibiscus, and pomegranate. It has a gentle and flirtatious palate that would love to meet a caprese salad or spicy grilled shrimp for a date on a summer night. 

The wine is a blend of Salamino and Sorbara: two classic grapes used in Lambrusco. Fermentation all occurs in stainless steel vessels. Lambrusco is a frizzante style of sparkling wine where carbonation comes from Charmat method; the same method used in Prosecco production. I love the look this gives Lambrusco, which is sometimes frowned upon as being a jug of sticky sweet bulk wine you found in your grandmothers cupboard. At only 11 percent abv, this opens the door to be a crushable addition to your picnic or beach trip.

Make sure to check out the Tuesday cocktail series on The Wine Source Instagram, where we featured the red counterpart of the Lini line up. The cocktail I did is an ounce of Forthave amaro, the juice of a blood orange, topped with the Lini Lambrusco Rosso. 

Allora!

-Jack Zarecky

G.D. Vajra Rosa Bella Rosato 2020

Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

Brought to us by: Winebow

Regular: $24.99

TWS Sale: $19.99

Hailing from Piedmont, Rosa Bella is a bright, crisp, and vivid style of rosé. Starring Nebbiolo as the leading grape with a touch of Barbera and Dolcetto G.D. Vajra’s, this rosé is a kitchen-sink blend of the native Piedmont varietals. On the nose, light notes of flowers and peach effuse from the glass. The palate opens with bold lime, blood orange, salt, and stone, before evolving to notes of underripe peach and rhubarb on the finish. Rosa bella's dense blend of citrus fruit and herbs gives makes this rosé incredibly versatile and food friendly. Delicious by itself, but wonderful when paired with spicy seafood preparations, chips and salsa, or strawberry and goat cheese salad with basil. 

-Matthew Supik