The Roses of Summer at Joe's Wines & Liquors

There is nothing that is more enjoyable in the oppressive summer of Memphis than good dry rosé. Our shipments of some of the best rosés on the market are starting to arrive & we are stacking them up & chilling them down for you. With summer starting so early we anticipate that these may not last until the worst heat of the summer. We have never seen such a huge response to rosés this early in the season!

Adelsheim Rosé of Pinot Noir 2011 Willamette Valley $18.99

(a Joe’s Exclusive!) This is one of Oregon's most delicate and nuanced offerings. A beautiful array of strawberry, cherry and rhubarb are balanced by crisp acidity. This medium weight rosé will develop after its been opened and shouldn't be served too cold. -

Elk Cove Rosé of Pinot Noir 2011 Willamette Valley $16.99

Elk Cove's 2011 offering is surprisingly dry and stylistically reminiscent of those made in the French birthplace of rosé, Provence. The inviting pale watermelon hue leads to a nose of dried strawberries, floral notes, and perhaps even a touch of anise. The palate is bright & fresh with lots of minerality and bright, mouthwatering acidity that leaves you wanting more. -

Ponzi Rosé of Pinot Noir 2011 Willamette Valley $17.99

Last year we sold out of this glorious rosé in just 2 weeks! Ponzi delivers an amazingly balanced wine. Bright fruit is perfectly offset by vibrant acidity and a palate that is luscious without coming across as weighty. The whole affair is brought to a close with a zingy tart cherry finish. Beautifully done. -

Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc 2011 Sonoma County $20.99

California too can make a fine rosé! Belle Glos, now famous for its almost too reasonable Meiomi Pinot Noir, is now producing a single vineyard Pinot Noir rosé! While many producers use saignée, excess bled off juice from red wine production, to make their pink wines, Belle Glos manages the Brugioni Vineyard in Sonoma County with the sole intention of making this great rosé. We bought the last remaining cases from the wholesaler. -

Chateau des Annibals 2011 Provence $20.99

This biodynamic beauty is a perfect example of why Provence is the queen of rosé. The pale, antique rose/skin tone hue is indicative of the greatest wines from the region. These wines where originally produced to pair with the Mediterranean cuisine consumed in the area. Shellfish, Bouillabaisse and Aiolis really make this style of wine shine. The AOC for Provence was actually signed in this Chateau! -

Domaine Houchart 2011 Cotes de Provence $15.99

Houchart has always been a great entry level Provencal buy. It also has consistently been of excellent quality despite how the vintage faired. There is delicate but fresh bright fruit on the palate with a nice hint of the minerality indicative of the region. This wine has been a Joe's staple for years. -

La Remise de la Mordoree 2011 $15.99

There are only 2 cases of this Marselan-Merlot blend! If that first wine listed in the blend seems unfamiliar, you're not mistaken. Marselan is a mid 19th century hybrid of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. This varietal is only grown in a few vineyards across the globe and offers a profile quite unlike anything else! This slightly fuller-bodied rosé offers an array of baking spices on the nose with hints of black pepper and a rich, round mouthfeel. If you are at all interested in pursuing Marselan further, we carry a red wine made by the same grape. -

Charles & Charles 2011 Syrah Rosé Washington State $13.99

This Washington State wine delivers a ton of character for the asking price. Big bright Rainier cherries and fresh strawberries dominate a palate with plenty of acidity to keep it fresh. When it comes to bang for your buck, this is one of our best! -

Sensation 2011 Cotes du Rhone $13.99

Both the 'Sensation' and the following 'In Fine' Rosé are brought in by Bourgeois Family Selections. The owner, Philip Bourgeois, finds small family owned wineries that are organic, biodynamic, or at least sustainably farmed and gives them the opportunity to export their exceptional wines. These tiny operations would never see representation in the U.S. if it wasn't for this small import company. Sensation Cotes du Rhone offers aromas of peaches and berry fruit that carry through to the palate. 55% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Syrah. -

In Fine 2011 Cotes du Ventoux $12.99

Another great offering from the Bourgeois Family, this is one of the driest rosés we have this year and is quite indicative of what Southern Rhone Valley rose has to offer. Stone fruit, with little hints of dried strawberries and blackberries, this Grenache driven blend is a fantastic food wine. Hard, saltier cheeses, olives & salamis all bring out the dynamic nature of this wine. -

Arizona Stronghold “Dayden” 2010 Arizona $16.99

Maynard Keenan (lead singer from Tool, A Perfect Circle) and Eric Glomski teamed up together to grow wine in Cochise County (Tombstone) Arizona. They did a great job! You can watch what a nightmarish process it was to carve out these vineyards in the documentary "Blood Into Wine." Last time we checked, it was streaming on Netflix. This darker crimson rosé offers plenty of bright tropical fruit with flinty mineral notes that are indicative of Arizona wines.

All of these wines can be purchased at Joe's Wines & Liquors, 1681 Poplar, 901.725.4252