Leone de Castris Five Roses 2014

The first rosé bottled in Italy (1943).

90 percent Negroamaro, completed by Malvasia Nera of Lecce, for a focused and bright cherry red.

Very rich nose, especially fruit. Aromas of red berries - currant and raspberry, strawberry and blueberry - mixed with citrus, pomegranate and cherry, while emerges the measured elegance of the rose hips.

The taste is dry, warm and muscular. There are, not quite, not all, the fruity tones - strawberry and cherry dominating - and check a pleasant minerality, with tannins that turn out quite slender. The draft, however, does not reflect the "femininity" offered by the nose. Level going down slowly, because of the influential structure, that undermines and distorts a little bit the balance.

It closes hot and tangy, on pink grapefruit and cherry returns.

Questionable how much you want, but personally, from these wines, I expect lightweight, drink flowing, even brazen, and eye-catching sinuous.

Les Vignerons du Castellas Rosé 2014

It comes from a cooperative of growers, active since 90 years, close to the Bouches du Rhone. This rosé d'assemblage is mainly composed by Cinsault, Grenache and Carignan, with minimum percentages of Syrah and Mourvèdre.

A pale salmon, for a scent, very delicate, made by remarks flowers - rose and peach blossom - and net aromas of red fruit, among which cherry and strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant, with a slight minerality sensation.

The taste is fresh, but more uncertain and blurred, with floral expressions more perceptible than fruity, which come in no particular order, less clear and sometimes indistinct.

An honest rosé by high fluency of drink, sometimes vehement, in these hot and sunny days.

Chateau Le Bastidon Côtes de Provence Rosé Séduction 2014

The vineyards of this beautiful company are right in front of the island of Porquerolles, so the grapes breathe sea in the round. The Seduction is an assembly, in undeclared percentages, of 5 varietals: Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Rolle.

It has a precise and extensive aromatic character, with so much fruit in evidence - currant and raspberry, blackberry and strawberry - a floral caress - orange blossom, rose and violet - and a distinct aroma of the sea.

The same aromatic amplitude is felt even on the palate, enriched by dense brackish connotation, recalling oysters, loudly. Sip very rearing, ever pimp, balanced acidity and good length, with final of fruit, spices and salt.

Yes, he seduced me. Even with the price, 7 euros.

Vincent Couche Champagne Rosé Eclipsia Brut n.v.

About 13 hectares grown by Vincent Couche, biodynamic since 2008, in the Côte des Bar, with an annual production of about 80,000 bottles.

This is rosé d'assemblage, consisting of 80 Pinot Noir, from vineyards in Buxeuil - Kimmeridgian soil, clay and marl - and 20 Chardonnay, from Montgueux - chalky soil, the only one of the Côte des Bar - perhaps the most interesting of all terroirs of the Aube (South Champagne), where the white grapes, here, gives really appreciable results.

A beautiful pink and lively perlage, not really fine, the nose offers subtle vegetable tones standing next to dark notes of cherry and strawberry, fig and pomegranate, with a spicy profile that flatters the nostrils.

The taste is fresh, powerful and determined, however, by virtue of an incisive acidity, is able to combine agility with structure, finding, thus, his right balance. The mouth is wide and vinous, with the fruity aspects - cherry, raspberry, strawberry and myrtle - dominating and imposing themselves, on those spicy.

It closes with great freshness, medium length, slightly bitter, with a touch of tamarind, well mixed with savory minerality.

A young producer, with a strong personality, met recently, convinced of his choices, which I will follow very carefully.

Denis Montanar Merlot Borc Dodon 2011

About 13,000 bottles for this Merlot, from sandy soils, mixed clay, which soaks a week by fiberglass, only indigenous yeasts, then 16 months in contact with the fine lees, no fining or filtration.

The taste made one year ago, in a salon of natural wines, pleased me and urged me to buy a few bottles, also in virtue of the fact that, usually, I’m not crazy about this variety; however, this one, I found it at odds with the usual sweetish Merlot. And now that I've tested over a bowl, I can say, I had seen good.

A nice bright ruby red with so much fresh fruit - cherries and currants, raspberry and blackberry - which is enriched by touches of herbs and balsamic, with strong characterization of stony and tangy minerality.

In the mouth it shows just as fresh and sharp fleshiness. Nothing to do with the softness most commonly encountered. The drink is vertical and agile, with an acid thorn that supports and strengthens, the richness of the fruit, while the mineral aspect gives further sprint. Pleasant and persistent, satisfies the palate, until the end, with balsamic sensations and saline.

Also great during hot, served chill.

Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc Génération XIX 2010

Organic and biodynamic culture, for this family of winemakers from Loire, passing the baton from father to son, from 1513 and coming to the twentieth generation.

This Sauvignon Blanc, produced in 6.000 bottles, ferments in conical stainless steel and spent about a year on the lees.

Flashes green combine with a radiant gold.

The scents, elegant, clean and without swollen ostentation, express themselves, at first, the tropical fruits - stands the passion fruit - peel and citrus - grapefruit and tangerine - then exploring vegetable and floral territories - nettle and tomato leaf, thyme and broom - and conclude with a solid mineral identity - iodine and oyster - which explains, without ambiguity, as the layer of Kimmeridgian is markedly present and characterizes these subsoils.

The taste has exemplary acidity and does not change, from the score olfactory and draws, in a precise sequence, the fruity and vegetable expressions, while the mineral and iodized structure gaining more and more weight and size.

Glass of terroir, straight and structured, very persistent, savory and, inevitably, all oyster and flint.

Huitres, ça va sans dire.

Vigneti Massa Croatina Pertichetta 2008

Bright purple, with a nose really cool and deep. At the first time, the bouquet is dominated by the fragrances of wild berry fruits - strawberry, raspberry and blueberry - then the spectrum is permeated by herbaceous and earthy notes, while a strong mineral footprint binds to a light spicy sensation.

In the mouth the attack is agile, upright and decided, with the fruity expression finding an elegant and precise confirmation. The taste continues in growing, under a concrete acid-tannic grip that marginalizes the alcohol (14.5%) and constantly recalling the cup to the mouth.

Final returns of cherry, anise and liquorice, enrich the fleshy mouthful, for a long and savory persistence.