Wine of the Week: Chateau de Parenchere Bordeaux Clairet 2008

We were sitting outside the other day having lunch in the nice 80 degree sunshine when the table next to use ordered a bottle of red wine.

Granted, we were having Italian food, but red wine on an 80 degree day that felt closer to 90 made our mouths parched. All we could think about was how a crisp white or rosé would have been a better choice.

In honor of our diners, we decided that this week’s wine of the week would feature a good summer rosé, because sometimes we just get tired of white. But when we say rosé, we don’t mean that sweet, borderline white zinfandel that you can get at the local convenience store.

We mean a delicious dry rosé that you would be proud to serve your mother on Mother’s day. This week, we chose the Chateau de Parenchere Bordeaux Clairet 2008.

This particular rosé is much more substantial than your typical rosé. It’s a rosé for red wine drinkers. The 50 percent Merlot and 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon blend delivers a slightly fruity, but mostly dry red fruit flavor.

One person thought it had some caramel notes, but we thought it had more raspberry flavors. You could drink this by the pool, but it would be better on a warm summer evening with grilled meat or fish. And for only about $15 a bottle, you can get a few.