French Rose
French Rosé 2005
Harvest:
In 2005 winegrowers waited through a cool winter and spring for the warm
summer in the south of France. Once the temperatures began to rise, warm
days were followed by August storms in the Languedoc-Roussillon which
hydrated the vines and allowed them to flourish. During harvest in early
September, warm dry winds blew across the vineyards for two weeks ensuring
excellent conditions for the grapes to ripen. As such, our reds were able to
achieve full ripeness, and our whites matured to gain an optimal balance
between acidity and sugar. The combination of temperature and rains created
wines characterized by fresh fruit aromas and full, delightful fruit flavors.
Winemaker Notes:
Our 2005 Red Bicyclette® French Rosé is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and
Cinsault sourced from the Gard and Aude regions. The vineyards in these
areas benefit from both the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, as well as
cooler evening temperatures characteristic of the continental inland
foot-hills found in the region. The cool dry summers lead to good maturity
and acid retention for our grapes. The result of excellent weather conditions
is evenly ripened, concentrated, and full-flavored grapes in 2005 vintage. In
this vintage of French Rosé, the Syrah component delivers rich fruit aromas
and structure, Grenache imparts a full-fruit softness and roundness on the
midpalate, and Cinsault delivers fresh fruit character.
The grapes used in Red Bicyclette French Rosé were handpicked, lightly
crushed and then cold soaked for a short period. They were then quickly
transferred to the press. Limited skin contact in the press resulted in
excellent color extraction for Rosé. Fermentation took place in stainless steel
tanks over two weeks under controlled temperatures of 18°C to ensure
optimal red fruit flavors. Once fermented to dryness, the base wines were
settled in stainless steel tanks. The components were then blended, fined,
and filtered for bottling.
Taste Profile
Color: Brilliant, transparent, rosy pink
Bouquet: Bouquet of fresh strawberry, and raspberry
Palate: Medium-body, rich mouthfeel with substantial length of red fruit
Finish: Cleansing, dry, and crisp finish
Suggested Pairings:
Caesar salads, grilled seafood, spicy Thai food, and savory barbeque
of all types
Grape Source: Gard and Aude, France
Varietal Content: 60% Syrah, 36% Grenache, 4% Cinsault
PH: 3.4
Residual Sugar: 0.65g/100mL
Titratable Acidity: 0.51g/100mL
Alcohol Level: 12.5%
For additional information, visit www.redbicyclette.com
French Table Wine, ©2006 Red Bicyclette USA, Healdsburg, CA. All rights reserved. 606RBY-100-79681
