Les Arômes 2024

In the Loire Valley’s ‘magic triangle,’ between the Atlantic Ocean, the Loire estuary and Lake Grandlieu, Domaine des Herbauges has gained an unsurprising reputation for crisp and compelling Muscadet production. But the 1864 winery yields some fantastic under-the-radar rosé, too. Les Arômes showcases that pink wine prowess, with a pretty pale color and punchy flavors of fresh berries.

The wine is the handiwork of Jerome Choblet, the fourth generation of his family to run the estate, who took the reins in 1998. He uses a rare grape called Grolleau Gris, a relative of red Grolleau that’s grown almost exclusively in the Loire area. It has distinct pink-tinted skins that allow for the production of white, rosé and sparkling wines that all have the potential to wow.

Perhaps because so little of the grape is grown, it’s used primarily alongside other varieties in blends. But Jerome wanted to see what else it could do…

To make this rosé, he employs a process called “cold settling” before the wine undergoes fermentation. This means he lets the juice and grape skins mingle together for about two weeks, with the temperature turned down to 41-50℉ degrees fahrenheit. All of the solid skins, seeds and stems will eventually fall (or “settle”) to the bottom, leaving pretty yet piquant juice ready to move onto the next step in the winemaking process.

By the time it reaches your glass, you can look forward to an ultra-fresh palate dominated by peach, pineapple and passion fruit flavors, with attractive pepper accents and soft spice notes throughout a lengthy finish. (Think classic French rosé but a bit more tropical.) And the best part? It has just 8.5% ABV—perfect for brunch or lunchtime sipping.

As you may imagine, stocks are extremely limited. Order soon.