INSIDER'S PICK: 2021 FIGUIERE 'MEDITERRANEE' ROSE $17.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount on Thursday and Friday. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

The weather is starting to mandate a little extra Rose action, which works out just fine as more and more excellent ones finally start making their way into the marketplace. Provence is of course one of the signature regions in the world for Rose, and once the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco GP get into full swing the Rose flows more freely than the water. Lots of good stuff, but as always lots more very ordinary stuff as well, so you should still make sure you're buying from good producers. Figuiere is a moderate sized organically run estate in the sub-district of La Londe, and their Mediterranee line comes from nearby contracted growers; technically the Mediterranee IGP covers a mighty wide area and can make for very nondescript wines, but this is true Provencal Rose in every aspect. Super clean and fresh with bright acidity that pops on the nose with aromas of peeled citrus and strawberry leaf, quenching on the palate showing lots of mouth-watering flavor with almost a hint of salinity to the finish. Classic character that delivers great value, and while we are rarely suckers for a label........c'mon, this literally screams for poolside enjoyment.

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