Gaston Rosé

Flawed???

Planned a weekend getaway to the Texas Hill Country for my wife after completing/surviving another year of teaching 5 year olds in kindergarten. Love Fredericksburg and so pleasantly surprised that TX are most definitely increasing in quality. Stunned at some of our finds so far!

Calais winery is owned and run by a Frenchman, who is from the northern part of France near Belgium. Ben definitely uses his heritage in crafting these wines and has made a beautiful marriage with this rosé. TX is churning out a massive amount of quality rosés, and after trying 7 different rosés yesterday, this was the winner. I get grapefruit on the nose and finish, alongside faint hints of kiwi and melon. The body and texture on this are superb! (FYI, he seems to be a wizard at Cab Franc here in TX, where that varietal struggles. Well worth a bottle)

Spring in a glass with enough back bone to take on a pork tenderloin with Herbs de Provence

Earthy quality to it. Not bad on this beautiful day in the Texas Hill Country. 100% Texas Fruit. #buylocal

TX rose made in a French style! Little bigger rose but good quality.

Still rocking, yet loses a little bit after 3 or 4 hours. Nice strawberry and minerality. GASTON!!!!

I have posted the 2015, but not this one (to my knowledge). Whereas 2015 is definitely more strawberry crush and red fruited in general, this 2016 is more watermelon, pink grapefruit, and mango on the front. The wine is very acidic on the front. The wine is of medium weight with sharp acid. There is a little less fruit here than the 2015 overall. The wine is still rather solid to the finish with the watermelon and mango notes, some kiwi here as well. I think this has very good aging potential. I think the 2016 Rose wines from the TX Hill Country are all less strawberry on a whole. But all, with exception to one thus far, are pretty damn delicious.

Gaston? This is my last of the 2014 vintage. RATHER interesting how this one has aged. Definitely not in the gutter. The cork had just about bled all the way through. Nose of ripe strawberry and oregano. Definitely not your youthful strawberry or red fruit. The entry reminded me of pomegranate. The middle is herbal, dusty, floral....really different and quite intriguing. Finished very dry. This wine went AMAZING with Herbs de Provence chicken. I wish I had 10 more of these, because although this wine was definitely partially oxidized, age is really doing a good number on this one!! However I'll say...if you got 'em, it's time to drink 'em. But it makes me want to sock the rest of my 15 stash away for a year (as I think the 15 will hold and age much better).

If you want a better Rose, you have to go to Provence, and even then you're gonna have to search for it. This is one mad Frenchman making really good wines, and I guess I've been on a little bit of a Texas roll lately. Nose is almost a peach/pear with dirt. On the palate is strawberry crush and wild peach with a bramble to the middle. Finishes medium with great acidity. Drinks well by itself or with food. Even though this one is 12.8%, it will snow you! The 16 has already released and the 15 is still rock solid. Beautiful wine from Calais!

Great Rose' especially given the fact that is made in Texas. Of course the winemaker is French.