2008 Les Ligeriens Rose d'Anjou

Last night was grilled cheese night, a family favorite for many reasons.

One, the kids love it and pretty much will eat any combination of bread and cheese we put together.

Second, it is easy to fix. Some lightly buttered bread, some good cheese, a medium heated pan and a 170 degree oven to keep the early batches nice and gooey. Easy peasy.

Third, it is comfort food, especially on nasty days like yesterday. The light crunch of the bread followed by lava-lamp textured cheese (I’m not sure that really sounds appetizing, but it describes the texture), along with some tomato soup bring back fond memories of childhood and the power of simple but flavorful food to warm the soul.

Last night was blatantly simple, with Seaside English cheddar on one of two different breads. The boys (me and my son) had the Sweetwater 420 bread (available at Whole Foods), while my wife and daughters enjoyed a nice organic hearth rosemary sourdough. My wife and I also had corned beef on our sandwiches, with mine having a thin spread of stoneground mustard.

For the wine, I selected our last rosé in the fridge and probably for the year. I’d not had a rosé from Anjou, a growing region in the Loire Valley of France. While the Loire is perhaps most famous for its two regions that specialize in Sauvignon blanc (Sancerre and Pouilly Fume), oenophiles in the know are aware of the many great reds made from Cabernet franc. In Anjou, they specialize in rosés made from the same grape and I have to say, this particular example was really quite good. I’m a bit disappointed to have it so late in the year, as it was my favorite of the year.

Price: Paid $8.99 for this at Green’s on Buford Highway.

Honestly, I didn’t give much attention to the nose of this wine because I was really hungry and thirsty when we sat down to dinner. Once I started sipping on this, I actually started drinking it full throttle. This stuff was tasty. My wife called it “strawberry watermelon water”, with an emphasis on the strawberries for her. I have to agree, this stuff was really good. It was silky smooth on the palate, with a nice bit of acidity to cleanse the palate, but less than many other rosés I’ve had from France this year. It had this touch of grip to it, but it was parried by the richness of the cheese and corned beef.

This is the sort of wine that will convert the non-drinkers of rosé. I’d also say that if you are looking for an inexpensive winner to go with Thanksgiving, this would work. Beyond the budget friendly price and beautiful salmon color it adds to your service, it just tastes good. I have no idea if Green’s has any left or not, but you can call them at (404) 321-6232 to find out. That or check in with your local shop and see what their favorite rosé on hand is. If they tell you white zinfandel, find a new favorite shop.

Haiku
Salmon pink color
Strawberry watermelon
Tasty French delight

Have a Thundering Thursday and thank you for visiting. If you like what I’m doing, please pass it along to your friends. I love comments and emails as well. I even had someone email me the other day who not only taught me something about Cobb County and corkage, but inspired a piece on that subject that I’ll try to get to real soon.