Say Oui to Rosé
First Impression: COTE Drink Pink Box
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Last month, due to out of town concerts and teaching obligations, I did a fair amount of driving. My new found joy when driving is listening to audiobooks. In February, I attended one of my favorite restaurants in NYC, Cote, for their Burgundy tasting and pairing dinner called “COTE Sunday Sommelier Suppers: Burgundy, Off the Beaten Path by Sydney Fusto.” As Ms. Fusto explained each wine and food pairing, I had great conversations about influential female makers in Burgundy and was recommended the book Wine Girl: The Trials and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier by Victoria James, Director of Beverage at Cote.
As I drove through the countrysides of New York, Pennsylvania, and the Jersey Shore, I listened to the book narrated by Victoria James herself. The book was inspiring, and it talked about how she survived in a male-dominated toxic food industry as a woman and how she loves making people happy through wine.
After discussing the book with my wife, she discovered that Victoria James had curated a limited-edition rosé box with Convive Wines for the month of May. I have always been impressed by Cote's wine list, and how they thoughtfully pair fine wine with well-prepared Korean food. (In case you did not know, I am Korean. It’s not easy to convince Koreans to drink wine instead of soju with Korean BBQ.) So this was the perfect opportunity to explore. We couldn't wait to see what was included, so we ordered the box right away. In this post, I will share my first impression of the COTE Drink Pink Box. I am looking forward to trying out these carefully selected rosé wines.
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photo 1. Cote’s Wine Club Box (exterior)
(photo 1)
When we went to Convive Wines to pick up this box, we brought a heavy-duty Zabar’s grocery bag, thinking that the box would fit inside it. But we were wrong. The box was actually bigger than we expected, and it wouldn't fit in any large reusable grocery bags. Fortunately, we drove that day, so we had no problem carrying the box home, along with another bottle of wine. However, if you're planning to use public transit, be prepared to handle the large box or just have it delivered.
photo 2. Cote’s Wine Club Box (interior)
(photo 2)
As you lift the top cover, you are greeted by a beautiful contrast of colors and textures that serve to protect the bottles inside. The cover features a rippling pattern with Cote's logo, adding an elegant touch to the overall presentation.
photo 3. Drink Pink: A Celebration of Rosé written by Victoria James
photo 4. Signed Copy
(photos 3 & 4)
I ordered the box partly because it comes with a book. Having enjoyed Wine Girl, I was curious about learning more about rosé, a territory that I am less familiar with. Also, this is particularly special because it’s signed by Victoria James.
photo 5. The Three Rosé Musketeers
(photo 5)
We finally get to the main event of this post. The Three Rosé Bottles. They were safely placed in the cardboard protector. I was so excited to discover that these are neither the ones I have tried nor have seen in stores. It is always so thrilling to try new bottles and train my palates with new surprises.
photo 6.
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What’s in the Box? (from the left)
2021 Iconic Wines Secret Identity (from Lodi, Central Valley, California)
2020 Château Pradeaux Bandol Vesprée (from Bandol, Provence, France)
2021 Souleil Vin de Bonté Rosé (Vin de France)
Drink Pink: A Celebration of Rosé by Victoria James (signed copy)
I will share more about each wine later as I try them.
How about you? Would you say oui to rosé?