2024 Fontanet Les Terrasses Rose, South France

Fontanet Les Terrasses Rosé from the South of France is a bright, refreshing, and wonderfully versatile wine that captures the easy charm of Mediterranean living. Produced by the Fontanet family, who have been crafting wines in the Languedoc for generations, this rosé celebrates the warmth of southern French sunshine balanced by freshness and finesse.

The wine is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah grown on limestone and clay soils that lend both fruit richness and subtle minerality. The grapes are harvested in the cool early hours of the morning to preserve aroma and delicacy, then gently pressed and fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel. This careful handling produces a rosé that’s lively, pure, and effortlessly enjoyable.

In the glass it shows a delicate pale salmon hue. The aroma is fresh and inviting, offering wild strawberry, peach, and citrus blossom with a hint of herbs and crushed stone. The palate is smooth and dry, showing juicy red berries and melon framed by crisp acidity and a soft, mineral finish. It’s vibrant yet refined, the perfect expression of southern French elegance.

It pairs beautifully with grilled seafood, salads, charcuterie, or goat cheese, and is equally satisfying as an aperitif on a warm afternoon. Best enjoyed young for its freshness and charm, though it will hold nicely for several years.