2004 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèl "45" Côtes du Rhône Rosé

For some reason a few more dry rosés appear to be drifting into the market, and I am helpless in their presence... So I'm spending an afternoon watching old Steve Martin movies and enjoying a $10 bottle of the 2004 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèl "45" Côtes du Rhône Rosé. 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, though I thought I could taste more Syrah in there. The great thing about this wine? It tastes just like a good Côtes du Rhône but with no tannins. An excellent wine to pair with barbecued pork or chicken, and a good transitional wine for getting newcomers off the sweet stuff and into some of the milder French reds. Nice tart raspberry flavors with a short finish and an enchanting deep red sunset color.

The name "45th Parallel" refers to the fact that that line of latitude that runs right by the vineyard. Just for trivial info, my hometown and current city of residence, Memphis, Tennessee, is at almost exactly 35°N 90°W, a major intersection often shown on maps. And living one quarter of the way around the world from the Prime Meridian makes figuring time zones much simpler. In addition to those two major cartographical lines, we're also the at the cross between two major Interstates (I-40 and I-55), as well as major rail lines and the largest river in North America. Though we don't manufacture much in Memphis, we're a major distribution center for the entire nation. Lots of products come here, get repackaged and/or stored before being sent back all over the country. Add in the world headquarters of FedEx and there's a good chance that lots of things you've bought have passed through Memphis at one point or another.