For example, the 2009 Cotes du Rhone La Dame Rousse rose is an outstanding, dry, crisp, light salmon-colored offering with copious aromas of framboise, strawberries, and wild cherries. Fresh, medium-bodied, pure, and endearing, it will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 12 months. Although the 2009 Tavel Rose La Reine des Bois is too expensive for this report ($34.00; rated 92 points), I mention it here because for two of the last three vintages it has been the finest dry rose I have tasted from France. However, the quality of the other Mordoree roses for a much lower price are so good, it is hard to justify the higher priced La Reine des Bois. Importer: Fran Kysela, Kysela Pere et Fils, Winchester, VA; tel. (540) 722-9228; Fax (540) 722-9258

Fresh and zesty, with plenty of pretty strawberry fruit to go around and a faint mineral undertone. Medium, raspberry-inflected finish. A great choice for summer sipping. ——W.E.(7/1/2010)—— 86