More great summer wine is popping up everywhere, including the 2015 By.Ott Côtes de Provence Rosé ($25). I purchased this wine at the grand opening of the new BevMo! store in Lafayette, CA this past week (see my article BevMo Grand Opening).

Domaines Ott was founded in 1896 and has been producing rosé since 1912 in France’s oldest wine producing region, the Côtes de Provence along the Mediterranean coast (see right side in map below). The company was purchased by Champagne house Louis Roederer in 2004.

The By.Ott label is a newer line produced by cousins Jean-Francois Ott and Christian Ott, 4th generation winemakers in the original Ott family. The wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 20% Cinsault and 10% Syrah grown on mostly hillside terrain with various clay soils. Its typically pink color has a hint of orange. The nose is light and fruity with peach, apricot, passion fruit and mango. The taste is slightly heavier than most California rosé, but is still very crisp and refreshing with citrus and spice.

This is a great, affordable French rosé to keep ready for serving on the colder side during these hot summer days. Pick up a few bottles at BevMo! or other fine wine shop.