REVIEW: Luc Belaire Rare Rosé

The summer heat has really kicked in now. It might be time to change the beverage options for a while, no? There is no way you will find me with a glass of red wine in my hand right now. In fact, most of the time, you might find me with a light, artisanal beer in hand. However, there are some summer evenings that run a little late and opening a nice bottle of something chilled is often nice. All you need is a nice patio, some good company in good conversation or in comfortable silences so you might catch a few glimpses up at the evening sky.

As these evenings run late, oftentimes do our meal times. If some light picnic snacks or tapas are on your evening menu, you must try this wine, Luc Belaire Rare Rosé. This rare rosé wine is considered among many as the world’s most beautiful rose.

It originates from the Cote d’Azur region of Provence, where the sixth generation winemakers ensure that each bottle is made perfectly with the perfect balance of sparkling white and red wine. The region of Cote d’Azur has been famous for generations for the blue skies and lush grounds which have inspired such artists as Van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso. It is no surprise then that the generations of artistic wine makers would be inspired as well. Wines have been made here for over two-thousand five hundred years and the wine making specialty of the region has been that of beautiful rose blends for generations.

The Provence, known for lovely weather, warm Mediterranean summers and soft winds with an average of almost three thousand hours of sun per year, ideal for cultivating the best vineyards for the best wines. If the climate is this good for grapes, you can only imagine how good it must be for some of the world’s top-rated sports and events. Along with some of the world’s fine rose, the Cote d’Azur is home to the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and in the harbor the yachts in Saint-Tropez.

The Belaire winery started in 1898, and since then it has been ensured that the delicate cuvee is the same recipe and signature of the house year after year. They are, after all the originator of sparkling wine in France and it is said by some that this region represents the beginnings of all rose wine.

This Belaire Rosé is crafted by the talented hands with a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, creating a wine of fresh, alive and vibrant character. The Grenache is known to give body to a wine and add notes of lovely rich berry fruits; blackberry and cassis and currant. The Cinsault imparts a lightness to the blend and perfumed aromatics of additional red fruits to add an elegance. The Syrah adds a beautiful color and rounds out the lovely fruits with a touch of savory characteristics.

Once the blend is complete, the dosage is added. This is the liquor added to the still wine along with the yeast to create the secondary fermentation in the bottle and thus, the bubbles! It adds just a slight kiss of sweetness, a balance and notes which make this sparkling rose like no others. The aromas and perfumes are in perfect balance and interesting and the taste and finish carries on as such.

Now can you imagine yourself out on a summer’s night patio, your best friends all about you? Make yourself a nice set of tapas; maybe some fresh summer watermelon with goat cheese and fresh cracked pepper, what about some oil-cured olives with feta and garlic confit and fresh chopped herbs, steamed clams with freshly toasted baguettes and a touch of butter…

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