CAN ROSÉ AGE?
Yes. Rosé can age.
Are you really sure? I have read that rosé wines are made to be drunk young, in summer, because after years they lose their fruity aroma”
This is also true. After years the rosé turns its color towards copper, the aromas turn towards the spicy and the fruity note tends to disappear. The wine ages and evolves continuously. Just like with reds and whites. And it doesn’t mean it can’t be appreciated.
An aged rosé, which does not have its strong acidity and freshness, can be appreciated well with a good tomato sauce.
Of course there are exceptions. Not all rosés are suitable for aging, exactly with not all reds and whites are.
In Provence, rosés from a past vintages are more expensive than those of the current year. And it is here you can find some of the most suitable rosés for aging.
A variety that is particularly suitable for giving long-aged rosés is Mourvedré. Always in France, in Tavel rosés produced are suitable for aging and they are obtained by Mourvedrè blended with Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. Bandol is the other AOC in Provence, where wines obtained by Grenache can age very well.
Did you know that in Spain, in Rioja there is a rosé that ages 10 years before being released?
And did you know that in Puglia, you can find a 2013 rosé aged in concrete.
Rosé can age. Characteristics of the wine
Rosés suitable for aging are produced from specific varieties and they go through a process of aging in the cellar, even in wood. This is important because the wine in barriques is in contact with oxygen and this makes it particularly suitable for aging. In addition, contact with wood gives the wine some tannins, which have the function of preserving its structure and color.
We can mention the Garrus of Chateaux d’Esclans, one of the most expensive rosés in the world: obtained from Grenache, it ferments and ages in barrique for 11 months.
Another consideration. Winemaking techniques have changed and a lot in recent years. Today it is easier make wine with low temperatures to preserve the aromatic substances of grapes and wine. Years ago this is was not possible or it was very expensive: consequently, the rosé produced, after years, wasn’t so good. The prestige of rosé is a trend born in the early 2000s and for this reason, modern winemaking techniques are giving us rosé wines that can age.
Rosé can age and this depends on the grape variety and the winemaking method. Rosé is a great wine and we are finally realizing it.
So what should you expect from an aged rosé?
The aromas have notes of hazelnut, sherry, wood. The color turns towards gold and copper. They will be wines pleasant to drink.
So, will you leave a few bottles of rosé wine in your cellar too to appreciate its maturation?
