Rose wine, Summer Time, Languedoc, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon

As the days heat up, the sun heralds a rush to the wine shop for 'seasonal' wines. Roses, blush wine, chilled whites. Mundo Pinot Grio.

Well, that will be the first few sentences of every single wine blog out there, people. But not here. White-washed wine writing makes Interwined see red.

Look, you can drink any wine in any weather. Kick around the idea of sloshing a bottle of Brouilly or Pinot Noir in an ice bucket. Or even an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. Well, actually, that advice is kinda stupid when looked at in reverse: sticking Chardonnay in the oven for Christmas. If that oven isn't on, and that wine isn't going in the roasting tin to do whatever it is wine does to the chicken, then it just isn't right.

Interwined's former NYC roommate (a current MySpace friend) once decided he needed to chill out with a beer and a walk before an big time network TV interview, arranged by yours truly. Quickly: he was meant to comment on whether the book "How to Get Women," fulfilled its sexy promise. So, of course, the little guy was worried, weren't you [name deleted after threatened legal action].

So an hour before the walk, he put some beers in the freezer to get cold quick. By the time of the walk, he had ice brews. So he decided to, then, put the beers in the (hot) oven to liquefy. But, he forgot to take the bottles out before going on the walk. Needless to say, the interview took place in an apartment that smelled exactly like a overcrowded, fermented nursing home.

So, ovens and alcohol don't mix. Except for cooking. Even then, you're playing with fire. (ouch!)

TIP: When writing, avoid a play on words. Only work in conversation, and even then, rarely.

Many rose wines from the South of France tend to be dry, often mainly Syrah, but Mouvedre and Grenache factor heavily enough. Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest growing region around here, on the Med, and the largest in France.

So, quality is often iffy when you don't know the producer, the soil, the microclimate, you know, all the things you aren't going to know.

So, find a negociant. That is, some French guy who drives around, drinks a wine, and says, "yeah, this is good," then takes it and sells it. But not after putting his name on the bottle.

Case in point. Went into a wine shop after seeing a bottle of Languedoc rose with Gerard Bertrand's name on it. Wanted to buy that wine, but the store was out. So, for the same price, 6 GBP, purchased another Gerard Bertrand, a Roussillon. Huh? Exactly. What?

I think it will still sourced from the South of France, only way south, in the Basque regions, because of the tell-tale red and gold striped flag on the label.

The 2006 Sang & Or is tarty and full-bodied. Hint of watermelon. An unpleasant hotness from unharmonious alcohol levels. Smells crisp and delicious, finishes dry, way dry. 8.3 points, which is good for a Rose.

Come to think of it, a good red wine to chill would be the 2004 Wolf Blass Cabernet Saugvignon, for around 7 GBP. Cedar and dill will flourish with a little chill. The hard-nosed alcohol edge and grapiness will diminish. 8.5 points, much better than the 2003, BTW.