Rosé of Grolleau, Dom. des Hauts Baigneux

70% Grolleau/15% Gamay/15% Côt

After Bandol, Azay-le-Rideau in the Loire Valley was the second rosé given AOC status in France in the 1930s. For tourists, it's famous for the beautiful Renaissance château, but for wine lovers, Azay-le-Rideau is known as the birth place of Grolleau, which was traditionally made into rosé. Hauts Baigneux's version comes from a single vineyard actually called 'La Surprise,' perhaps because of the surprisingly great wines that come from the parcel each year. It's a savory, food-friendly rosé with great depth.

What is Côt? Originally from the South-West of France, côt is a red grape variety renowned for being full-bodied with a touch of bitterness. In Touraine, however, the Côt grape variety is tighter and less tannic than in Cahors. The grape produces wines with a dark color and a range of fruity aromas [blackberry, currant, plum], even floral [violet] with spicy notes [pepper, licorice] and even tobacco. It is also more commonly known as Malbec.