Wearing Pink: Charles in Charge

If you have recently seen bottles of rose' with a pink abstract American flag on the label, the wine is from the Charles. Which Charles you ask?  Charles Smith of K-Vintners and Charles Smith Wines in Walla Walla: big hair, kick ass attitude, former rocker and 2009 winner of Food & Wine Magazine's Winemaker of the Year or; 

Charles Biehler of  Three Thieves / Rebel Wine Co. in St Helena, CA and Sombra Mezcal: wine innovator, explorer, marathon runner, New York hipster and winemaker in Provence, France? Both! 

In 2008 they came together to produce Charles and Charles Red, a blended wine with the black and white label of  an abstract American flag that is copied from the same that is painted on a building in Waitsburg, of Walla Walla County. With Smith's marketing talents and Bieler's talent for producing rosés in Provence with his family since 1992, the next step had to be pink just to prove that - - 

"Yes, you can drink rosé and still be bad *ss."  

Charles & Charles Rosé - 2011 is just a skoosh lighter in shade than the 2010 vintage, but every bit as easy to drink and even more popular. All of the fruit (Syrah and Grenache) was a direct press right after it was plucked from the vines bringing aromas of juicy watermelon and ripe local strawberries. It is a perfect sipper as it slides down so-o-o easy with notes of more red juicy berries, but with a crisp and dry finish that is bright with acidity. 

Bieler Pere et Fils Rosé - 2011 is solely owned by Charles Bieler, whose family is renowned for its former ownership of Chateau Routas. This wine is a tribute to Charle's father, Phillipe and from the hillside vineyards of Coteaux d’Aix en Provence. This dry rosé is a Syrah-driven salmon-color pink wine and blended with Grenache (30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). The nose is generous of berries and cherries. It shows refreshing qualities of a white wine, but with flavors of strawberries, Bing cherries and spice.  

Yes, it's okay to accidently put one of these wines away and they will still be refreshing for a couple of years. However, why do you want to? Enjoy them over the summer. They are priced so affordable you can drink them all year long and with the Thanksgiving turkey and cranberries. Pair them on the patio or the deck with salads, roasted chicken, grilled shrimp and an assortment of cheeses.