Drinking and Selling Rosé this week in NYC with Glenn Close, Pulenta Estate La Flor Rosé Malbec 2013, Mastroberandino Lacrimarosa, Chateau de Paraza Minervois Rosé, Axel des Vignes Bordeaux Rosé

Vertran NYC sales rep, Steve Pellegrini

OK! Only one Rosé was drunk with Glenn Close, and she was drinking a glass of white wine at the time... at another table... across the room! This week I worked with two superstar wine sales reps in New York City.  We sold a lot of the Rosé that I represent (Pulenta La Flor Malbec Rosé) and we drank a lot of the competition (for research purposes only!!)

 Pulenta Estate La Flor Malbec Rosé 2013
Mendoza, Argentina -- 100% Malbec
$13.99
This is a non-saignee method rosé made from 100% Malbec grapes from the family owned vineyard of the Pulenta family over in Mendoza, Argentina - grapes were grown specifically for this bottling.  The estate is lovely, the people are lovely, and suprise suprise, the wine is lovely too.  A rich fruit punch hue, strawberry and cranberry on the nose, and mineral and juicy watermelon on the palate along with a dry finish.  It's a great little rosé and you're helping me with every bottle you buy and guzzle. Available by the glass in NYC at Joe Allen, Nelson Blue, Casa Mezcal, and Community Juice.

 Mastroberadino Lacrimarosa 2013
Campania, Italy --100% Aglianico
$16.99

Glenn Close in Rose friendly plaid (look hard!)

Steve Pellegrini and I drank this at Orso on 46th Street with in swirling and spitting distance from Glenn Close.  It photographs dark, but the color is a rosy pink and the nose was very aromatic and pleasant full of raspberry, blood orange, and plum.  Very drinkable with similar fruit on the palate, pretty acidity, and a respectable finish.  I had this with a Gorgonzola and prosciutto pizza with arugula.  It was perfect. Plus - loved the jug they served the carafe in!  Made me feel like I was in Sorrento!

 Axel des Vignes 2013
Bordeaux, France - Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot blend
$8.99
Sometimes you get get what you pay for, and in this case an $8.99 rosé tastes just like that... a cheap wine.  The color is gorgeous a medium intense pinky orange.  The nose is even quite pleasantly aromatic with notes of  plum, peach and red fruit.  On the palate, this wine really falls apart.  There is no fruit whatsoever, but I could even excuse that if there was any kind of finish.  It's a boring, vapid wine with bad structure.  Congrats Axel - you get the award for the worst rosé I've tasted so far.  Please proceed to the bottom of the list... fin de queue, pour toi!!

Chateau de Paraza AOC Minervois Rosé 2013
Minervois (Langued'oc) France - 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah
$11.99
David Burke (the sales rep!) and I had this delicious little sipper with lunch sales call at Harlem's Red Rooster. This is an example of an inexpensive wine that doesn't taste cheap.  Hailing from the heat of the southwest coastal curve of France this has a perfect pale pink color (looks darker in photo).  Aromatic on the nose, spice from the Syrah, plum and red berries from the Grenache.  Palate is simple but has a lot of freshness and fruit.  Finishes dry and is very easy to drink.  It also paired extraordinarily well with Marcus Samuelson's Gravlax and the Lobster Roll!