From: Bordeaux, France
Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
About. This crémant rosé comes from a tiny, ten-person team winery with a 50-year history. The head of the family business, Philippe Carretero (an engineer-enologist), has led this team for about 30 of the 50 years Chateau Sicot has existed. Compared to many of the wineries around the world and even in Bordeaux, this Château is small. It may be because of their size that they’ve managed to successfully (& quickly) commit and convert their vineyards to organic farming, achieving ECOCERT certification in 2009.
Achieving an organic certification is time-consuming and expensive, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. They’ve seen the life of their soils strengthen, preventing erosion & the deterioration of microorganisms vital to keeping the ground healthy. Their vines have become healthier and more resistant to disease, resulting in better fruit, which yields better wine!
Tasting Notes: Full of bright red fruits like cranberry, red currant, and raspberry, with a hint of red pepper, apple skin, and cosmic apple on the palate. It's charming and bright, with a distinctly mineral core and a long, pleasant finish. It should be noted that though this wine has red fruits, it's not at all a "fruity" wine and is a dry sparkling rosé.
Pairing: Fantastic for seasonal PNW fare, this Crémant Rosé fits effortlessly alongside salmon or crab-based appetizers, many salads especially any incorporating seasonal produce, bisques, and grilled cheeses. We're taking the grilled cheese inspiration today, and we're sharing a recipe by Martha Rose Shulman for Grilled Feta and Roasted Squash Sandwich. It'll be fantastic all fall/winter long and will be a great balance to the bright and dry nature of this charming sparkling rosé. Cheers!