It has been a long winter. I normally don’t love winter (understatement of the year), but being pregnant and having travel restrictions. . . completely unable to escape to somewhere warm. . . made it absolutely miserable. Let’s just say I ate my hatred of winter in my weight in chocolate chip cookies, replacing my usual winter wine habit!
But now that our baby has arrived and brought spring with him, things are looking up. We’ve got a boat to get ready and summer plans to make, including what to eat and drink while we navigate this exciting, exhausting new life together.
I love easy boat drinks that are also delicious and aesthetically pleasing, and when I received wine samples from Archer Roose last week, I was super excited to give them a try.
The cans are slim and nicely designed; while it doesn’t *really* matter what our drinks look like, I would still love to have these hanging out in my beach bag or boat cooler, and they would be a pretty addition to a summery tablescape, especially the rosé. I can’t get enough pink this time of year, though, truth be told, we drink rosé year-round.
The cans made me think of an Easter egg hunt, and I think that searching through the flowers and grass for wine would be a lot more rewarding than looking for jelly beans, don’t you? That inspiration brought me outside for a photo in our yard, which is just on the brink of coming alive for the season. Never mind that it was absolutely freezing and windy the day I took this photo!
I like the “Splendory without Snobbery”messaging on the cans; especially in the summertime, when living should be light and easy; we love fuss-free, affordable wines that we can share widely with friends during this most wonderful time of the year.
Enough about the cans though. . . how was the wine?
I am always honest with my reviews (and if I don’t like something generally choose not to share on the blog), and I can honestly say that I would definitely buy all of these to enjoy again.
We started with the Sauvignon Blanc from Chile’s Maule Valley, which ended up being my favorite of the bunch, while it was my husband’s least favorite!
It was very acidic with delightful notes of pineapple and grapefruit, the perfect glass for a steamy summer night. The Archer Roose website recommends pairing with oysters, and I agree that this would be a match made in heaven!
(On a side note, I am dying to go to Chile. . . how young is too young for a baby’s first wine trip?)
Next up, we enjoyed the Chardonnay, which offered up apple and lemon flavors, quite different than the more buttery California Chardonnays I tend to love, but perfect as a summer wine and one that those who claim to hate Chardonnay might actually like.
We split the wine tasting up into a few nights and decided to try the red on a cold and rainy evening. Archer Roose’s Redsurrection is Carmenere from a 19th century family-run vineyard in Colchagua Valley Chile. A beautiful red both in color and on the palate, this wine had a bit of cocoa and spice and cooked fruit, flavors I might compare to berries in a not-very-sweet pie. This red was warming and cozy enough for a chilly evening but also light enough to be a summer red.
We saved the rosé for last, pouring in on a sunny Sunday evening on the porch. (Yes, I am obsessed with weather and the perfect wine pairing for it.)
Hailing from Provence, this rosé is the quintessential summer treat, and yes, as the website indicates, would be heaven with a (buttered) lobster roll. Bringing notes of berries and hints of pear and minerals, this wine had a slight effervescence, and lots of flavor, while being deliciously dry. The color is as beautiful as the flavor. My favorite rosés always remind me of my long-unworn but always beloved pointe ballet shoes.
About the founders of Archer Roose
When Marian, the co-founder and publisher of the literary magazine Explosion-Proof, met David, the co-founder of award-winning winery Pheasant’s Tears, they knew the combination of wine and storytelling was simply simpatico. Partners in life and in business, Archer Roose was built to reflect their shared passions and values: great conversation, craftsmanship and a belief that we must all do our part to build a better world.
Read more about Archer Roose, and find wine near you.
I received these wines free of charge as samples but was not required to review them. All opinions are my own.
