Beiler Père & Fils, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence (France) Rosé “Sabine”2024 ($15)

I taste about 300 Rosé wines each March in my role as consultant to 14 restaurants around Washington, D.C., and without fail this wine is near the top of those priced at $16 or under. From the 2024 vintage, it was the best of all the wines submitted, and as proof of its exceptional quality, the 2023 bottles still in the market (shown to me before the 2024 arrived) are likewise among the very best available in the USA — from anywhere in the world. This hits just the right balance between subtlety (which has made Provence Rosés the world’s leader in the category) and juicy flavors of red berries and strawberries that offer immediate appeal. Some Rosés show restraint to an extreme that makes them seem absent on the palate, whereas others are too obvious and pushy. The team behind this wine gets it right every year, producing a wine that is better than many of its counterparts priced at or over $20.
92 Michael Franz