The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Well-priced Roses of Different Hues and Flavors
April 22, 2026
2025 Brundlmayer Zweigelt Rose
Entirely Austrian Zweigelt rape, it’s perfectly round and inviting, with a pleasantly floral strawberry fruit that makes it fine to drink on its own or with a variety of lighter foods. Its low price makes it an affordable weekday wine; its style and substance are also for weekend meals.
Color: Very pale pink with an orange cast; Aroma: delicately floral, strawberry, with lifted edge; Mouth: lively on entry, bright and intense light and floral, pretty red fruit; Very Good $14.99; Case, $12.99
2025 Viallet Gamay Rose
The gamay grape is a pleaser, even more so in this light and lively wine grown in the uplands of France’s Savoie. Blissfully clean on the palate, it has the energy to enliven any number of lighter summer fare, from salads – hold the vinegar - to grilled fish and white meats.
Color: very pale lavender; Aroma: very fragrant and floral, pretty and forward, intense, spicy; Mouth: clean, direct lots of body brighter, intense bing cherry, clean; Very Good $17.99; Case, $14.99
2025 Le Fraghe Bardolino Chiaretto Rodon Rose
In northern Italy, Bardolino is to neighboring Valpolicella as light lager is to stout. From the same mix of grapes, you’ll get a wine as gracefully light as its pretty color. Light and forward, it has enough substance to partner with many a meal.
Color: very light; Aroma: heady and round, spicy, very heady and bright; Mouth: light, bright, clean, fine, acid bright, clean, long; Very Good Plus $19.95; Case, $16.99
2025 Balea Txakoli RoseOrganic
From the hilly Basque Country of northern Spain, this rosé brings spice and tang. A touch of green pepper, strong acid drive, and a saline note make it an excellent partner for spicier foods and boldly flavored marinades.
Aroma: heady and full, rosy floral notes, heady, rounded; Mouth: very light fizz, rounded and bright over substantial body, bright and full, intense, clean; Very Good Plus $21.99; Case, $18.99
2025 Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Rosé
A fuller Rhône rosé that benefits from the higher, cooler slopes of Mont Ventoux. It offers weight and richness, yet is saved from dullness by bracing acidity from its upland vineyards. Heavier meat dishes will embrace it.Color: very pale; Aroma: round and spicy, heady and full, fat, heady rather full; Mouth: fleshy, ripe and full, bright acid, clean, firm, and acid bright lean opens with air; Very Good Plus $22.99; Case, $18.95
2024 Ch. Sainte Roseline Lampe de Meduse Cotes de Provence Cru Classe
Serious rose here, one of only 18 Provencal classed growth vineyards. Grenache, crisp Cinsault, heady Mourvedre, and the rare local Tibouren grape combine in a layered, complex, and fuller-bodied rose that will pair with richer foods and even improve for another year or two. The bottle is as distinctive as the wine. It has the class of more expensive Provencal icons at a far gentler price.
Aroma: fresh, clean mineral, rather bright, clean, lifted, and forceful, spicy. Mouth: clean, light, bright, and flowing, bright acid forward, long; Very Good - Excellent $25.95; Case, $21.99
Len Rothenberg
Rose Case, two each of the wines - $249 $215 (17.92)
Or mix your own case at the wines' case prices
At the tasting, get any wine at its discounted case price
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
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downtown on orders more than $75;
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