It is rare to hear, “I don’t drink pink,” anymore, especially from men. This is in large part because industry has moved beyond the days of pink=sweet.
Pink is pretty, attractive, and for better or worse, often associated with femininity (ok, yes, cliché but bear with me). Rosé wines tend to be dry and crisp, and very refreshing. They can be made from a wide range of grapes. Rosés are so versatile they can be enjoyed all year round with a wide range of dishes. The good news is many/most BC wineries make rosé wine. But three? Brilliant! Yes, that is a specialty of Blasted Church. Have you made the pilgrimage to Blasted Church? If not, make sure it is on your “Must Visit” list for your next wine-country trip.
2022 Rosé (Blaufränkisch)
$26.00
These grapes come from their 28-year-old estate vineyard. The wine was fermented in French oak barrels. Cherry red with medium-minus intensity. Rhubarb, cranberry, cherry, raspberry, floral, with a delicate ripe cantaloupe note on the nose. Good balance. Bright and crisp on the palate with fresh fruit flavours followed by a medium-plus finish with juicy red berries lingering. Serve this crisp, food-friendly wine with salads, turkey, ham or salmon. A mere 72 cases were produced.
91 Points
2022 Blanc de Noir
$26.00
This 100% Pinot Noir wine is salmon/orange colour with medium-light intensity. The nose is floral intertwined with red fruit, vanilla, light confection, dusty herbs, hay, and camomile tea. Very good balance with a creamy texture. Juicy on the palate with flavours of black tea, cranberries, raspberries, and rhubarb followed by a mouth-watering medium-long finish. A great match for salmon, quiche, or shrimp salad. Only 122 cases were produced.
92 Points
2022 Rosé (Syrah)
$22.00
Whole cluster pressed then fermented in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels and blended prior to bottling. Cherry red/tea rose colour with medium-light intensity. The nose shows aromas of strawberry, rhubarb, red cherry, raspberry, red currant, orange peel, and cranberry. Very good balance. Crisp, refreshing and fruit-forward on the palate followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Serve with fish, noodles, Asian foods, or Thai curries. 441 cases produced.
93 Points
Rosé wines can be made from a wide range of grapes, so when you make many red wines, it only makes sense to make several types of rosé and that is exactly what Blasted Church has done (and the only or one of the few wineries to do so). Go on, give them a try and see how darned good they are. Become a part of the ‘Rosé any day’ cool crowd.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
