AUTHOR: Dave McIntyre TITLE: Seeing Summer Through Rose' Colored Glasses DATE: 6/20/2006 09:14:00 PM ----- BODY:

Big House Pink may not be the favored house wine for Jack Abramoff or Randy “Duke” Cunningham this summer, but for those of us not being threatened by grand juries, this rosé from California’s Bonny Doon winery makes a strong candidate. A cold rosé is the hot wine nowadays, and some California winemakers have even started an organization called RAP – Rosé Advocates and Producers – to promote it. This is one trend I can embrace, as I’ve been promoting it for years. Finally, wine lovers can be comfortable drinking a pink wine in public. A well-chilled rosé makes a refreshing patio aperitif and just may be the perfect pairing with garlicky foods or grilled salmon. Yep – pink wine with pink food. Here are some of my faves: Bonny Doon Ca’ del Solo Big House Pink 2005, California, $10. Crisp, with tons of juicy strawberry flavor. Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare 2005, California, $12. This one has enough weight to stand up to grilled meats. Dumont et Fils Rosé Champagne, NV, France, $35. Elegant, rich and classy, a perfect wine for brunch in the garden. Louis Bouillot “Perle d’Aurore,” Cremant de Bourgogne, France, NV, $15. This charming sparkler is 100% Pinot Noir. Hide the bottle, don’t tell your friends it isn’t Champagne, and let them think you paid a bundle for it. La Rosée de Monbousquet, 2005, Bordeaux, France, $10. Bordeaux’ wine crisis means more chateaux are producing rosé. Lucky for us! This is one of the best. Jean-Luc Colombo, Côte Bleue, France, 2005, $10. A pale, dry Provencal-style rosé. Think bouillabaisse or salade Niçoise. 1+1=3, Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2004, Penedes, Spain, $15. Richer and deeper than most, match this with anything off the grill. Falesco Vitiano 2004, Umbria, Italy, $10. Strawberries again, with a drizzle of balsamico. Wölffer, Rosé Table Wine 2005, The Hamptons, Long Island, $14. From America’s Côte d’Azur comes this tribute to the original. Crisp, refreshing and juicy. Clos la Chance, Hummingbird Series “Pink Throated Brilliant” 2005, Central Coast, California, $14. Okay, you may not be singing, but this little beauty will have you humming. It has bracing acidity and just enough fruit to give it lift, as it were. Chateau des Gavelles 2005, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, $11. Leaner than some, this true-to-type southern French rosé cuts through the summer heat to offer refreshment and refinement with Mediterranean foods. Here's to summer! Cheers!

----- --------