All gone dammit - could not save a few of the Gourt de Mautens for our own sipping, argh!

To cool things off, how about we stay in the Southern Rhône but go pink? Like beyond Barbie pink?

Almost red that is, with the deepest, darkest, sexiest rosé known to mankind, Tavel! And rarely ever seen under $20… this too shall go fast.

What makes Tavel so unique? Wine Spectator answers that by calling it “home of the first great pink” and elaborating that “Tavel is a different kind of pink. A few shades darker than the white peach or onion skin rosés, it’s past coral and on its way to being red. The wines have grip and body and can be drunk year-round, even benefiting from aging. But today the wines can be hard to find. In the United States, they are a niche product.”

This producer is so under the radar that only one review exists, with James Suckling calling the 2022 “supple, fruity, refreshing, soft, and succulent” and rating it “outstanding!”

Bingo, James, you nailed it. As Decanter defined the 2021 harvest in which “Tavel produced a crop of powerful and well-balanced rosés that should age well thanks to their intensity and acidity” stressing that “powerful Tavel rosés have come through in the 2021 vintage.”

Cause in our glasses is a borderline crimson to a shy red beauty, with an enticing perfume of raspberry coulis, fresh cut watermelon, and mint julep. Juicy and ripe on the palate, with layers of blood orange, Bing cherry, and strawberry, along with lively savory and rooibos tea notes through the zippy finish.

Insert drooling emoji 🤤

With the dog days of summer in full swing, you NEED Tavel by the case, chillax, and enjoy the ride.