Whispering Angel

Whispering Angel

Chris and I attended a wine tasting recently of Whispering Angel, a rosé from France. It was held at the Jupiter Grill and we went with friends.

Whispering Angel is a rosé wine from the Côtes de Provence AOC in Provence, France. It is produced by Chateau d'Esclans, which is majority owned by LVMH. It is credited with reviving interest in rosé wine. It is priced expensively for a rosé to create the perception of a premium product. (Wikipedia)

Dishwasher After and Before
Whispering Angel Plastic Glasses

The venue was nicely prepared, but I believe they underestimated the crowd even though tickets were purchased in advance. Our tasting included two glasses (yes, 5 oz pours) of Whispering Angel and a discussion of the history of the wine and winemaker. 

There were a few nice gifts including some plastic wine glasses with the name Whispering Angel on them. Fortunately, we tasted from very nice glasses and not the plastic beach/pool give aways. As it turned out, the plastic glasses were not dishwasher safe. They are for show and not use.

The wine was tasting very nicely and it was paired with a couple of enjoyable munchies. Whispering Angel used to be Chris' favorite rosé, but due to its popularity the price has risen to a premium price point. Despite the price, it remains a very enjoyable wine and is suitable for many meals. It is especially nice here in Florida as it  helps to beat the oppressive heat.

I recommend trying Whispering Angel if you haven to done so. Be careful of the price. I have seen it in stores recently ranging from $18 (Costco) to $25 (Publix). 

I applaud the Jupiter Grill for this inaugural tasting event and am looking forward to future offerings.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Confirming the Wine Status

 I wrote briefly about my FedEx troubles with recent wine delivery. The wine was delayed four days and not stored in good conditions. The condition of the corks seepage concerned me that the wines may have gotten "cooked."

Here is a good description of cooked wine:

If a bottle of wine has been exposed to extremes of heat, the wine might start to expand and leak out of the cork a bit. When you remove the capsule, you might notice a sticky mess. This is evidence your wine may have been exposed to heat, but it doesn't always mean that your wine is toast. A "cooked" wine's flavors will actually taste ... cooked. The fruit flavors might seem stewed, not fresh. There might be baked, burnt or caramel notes. The color may also have changed from deep red to more of a brown or brick tone.  (WineSpectator)

Well, I was concerned. But the only way to know if a wine is cooked is by sight and taste. But what, say, if I didn't want to open the bottle right now. I generally like to keep my bottles for a few weeks/months/years depending on the varietal and vintage. 

So, how to taste and evaluate the wines without opening them? 

The Coravin! 

I have had a Coravin for a few years but use it only infrequently. But, it provided a great way for me to sample the wines and make a determinations to whether they were cooked or not. 

Fortunately, the wines which appeared to have suffered the most were not cooked--by the definition above. They just got too warm and expanded in the bottle. This, of course, will lessen their shelf life, but again I am lucky in that none of the wines in this shipment were destined for long-term lay-down. One of the bottles, a solid CabSauv, was so good that I finished the bottle across three nights without ever removing the cork. 

That is the beauty of the Coravin. Chris and I are on divergent wine tastes at the moment, she likes whites more and I the reds, I will be using my Coravin a bit more because some wines go flat too quickly once oxidized.

I have contacted the winery and advised them of the results of my sampling and that I will not be requesting the replacements they graciously offered.

Ahh, wine. 

Life is too short to drink bad wine!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL