2015 Petit Cochon Bronze

Price: $17
Region: Languedoc < France 
Grapes: 80% Cinsault, 20% Syrah
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming, schist soils, blend of 60 year-old and 10 year-old vines, destemmed, 36 hours on skins, aged in stainless steel, zero added SO2
Winemaker: Jean-Marie Rimbert

Cute label alert: an adorable piggy graces the cover of this salmon pink beauty, which thankfully has a lot more going for it than just the label. This is the kind of winter rosé we can make our house wine from November through February. It has all the spice, cherry and minerality of a light red, with the crisp juiciness of a Provencal rosé. A tiny amount of tannin gives it the structure to stand up to meaty dishes, and savory notes will keep your mouth watering even if you’re drinking this solo. This is a newer addition to the portfolio of Jean-Marie Rimbert, who has been gradually accumulating small parcels in the Saint Chinian AOC of the Languedoc for the past 20 years. His specialty is Carignan, from which he creates transparent and intriguing red wines. These Cinsault and Syrah vines were selected especially for rosé. He farms organically and has applied his considerable winemaking skill with reds to this bottling as well. Stock up on this wine and hibernate for a few months (or 4 years)!