#TRENDALERT - TAVEL
If there’s one thing I’m pretty okay at, I think it’s predicting wine trends. Let me explain:
This is going to age me significantly, but when I was a young wine broker, slinging rosé, I’d go to some restaurants and they would tell me rosé was never gonna catch on. People always thought it was sweet. Basically, they thought Rosé = White Zinfandel
This madness made me want to go on some major Gordon Ramsay-esque tirade and tell all these buyers were wrong. But I didn’t. I just knew that one day they would come around. And they did. Rosé is freaking awesome, yo. And it’s not just because I happen to be a Millennial.
Being a persistent sort of salesperson, I was never deterred. I knew this pink beverage was going to blow up someday and have its moment in the sun, so I just pounded the pavement selling this candy colored juice to whoever would listen. It was considered, “millennial juice,” and often maligned at fancy restaurants. Now I go to those same restaurants and see they have 5 by the glass rosés on their list …. Go figure.
I wanted to touch on a specific subset of Rosé called Tavel. Because I think this dark and intense expression of Rosé is about to have its own moment in the sun.
THE TEA ON TAVEL
First off - Tavel was the OG rosés in France. Mmmmkay? It’s also the only Rosé with a freaking appellation devoted to it. Yup, that’s right, the Tavel AOC. So basically, there’s one part of France that focuses exclusively on producing these gorgeous, darkly hued, dry Rosés. And they’ve been doing it FOREVER!
Tavel Rosé was loved by Popes, Kings, and the famous writer, Ernest Hemingway. This Syrah and Grenache based wine captivated many with its rich color, dryness, startling minerality and surprising amount of body.
TAVEL = FOOD WINE
Tavel is not the kind of wine that you can just drink and throw away. This is a serious rosé that can be paired with Barbecue, tacos, and meat-based dishes and really stand up to them. Tavel is versatile enough to be enjoyed year round from Spring, to Winter. It also is an extremely rare rosé because - IT CAN AGE.
I’ve had Tavels with several years on them and you’d be amazed at the multidimensionality they develop. Picture notes of candied Rhubarb, limestone, sagebrush, and lavender all intermingled in one beautiful watermelon-colored beverage that is not sweet at all. That’s Tavel.
If you want to hop on the Tavel train, definitely check out the…
PICK OF THE WEEK: RESERVE DES CHASTELLES TAVEL $8.99 @ TRADER JOE’S
As a woman who spent a significant portion of her life both consuming and selling Tavel, you can imagine my consternation when I saw the price on this wine.
One of the pitfalls I constantly ran into when I was selling this delightful beverage that few would buy was the price point. Tavel is usually really expensive. So when I saw a Tavel priced at $8.99, I wondered if someone laced the samples of Trader Joe’s gluten free pickle flavored popcorn with LSD.
It turns out, they did not.
I HAD to purchase this wine. I was desperate to know what a $9.00 Tavel tasted like and if it stood up to the créme de la créme of all Tavels - Domaine de la Mordorée.
Well, it did not. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Though it may not have stood up to one of the fancier Tavels I would certainly say this easily stood up to a Côtes du Rhône Rosé at a $16.00 pricepoint. For an everyday drinking, richly dynamic rosé that’s the color of pink rubies? That’s pretty freaking solid.
You see, I’ve had many Tavels of varying price points. I’ve had some 20.00 Tavels that had this weird skunky smell, or were WAY too alcoholic for my taste. Not this one.
Imagine luscious watermelon if you will, coupled with lavender and this pristine sort of limestone minerality. If you inhale deeper, you’ll get the scent of fresh linen sheets, and taking one sip immediately conjures up images of sun-ripened raspberries in the mind’s eye, kissed with a touch or rhubarb compote. With its stunning minerality and depth, this wine is one of those that drinks at double the price point.
Consider it the perfect gateway Tavel that fits your casual drinking needs. The Reserve de Chastelles Tavel can effortlessly transition from a simple afternoon-drinking wine to a wine that will stand perfectly with your main course. Pair it with Middle Eastern Food, Mexican Food, any meaty dishes or hearty plant based dinners and get ready for your world to be rocked. I can tell you for a fact, the Trader Joes in Culver City carries this wine.
So the next time you’re at Trader Joe’s, keep an eye out for this gem.