Brad Pitt vs. John Legend
Which Celebrity Rosé is Best?
Okay, so you're Brad Pitt
That don't impress me much
So you got the looks but have you got the touch
Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night
That don't impress me much…
Do music superstar Shania Twain’s 1997 lyrics from her hit “The Don’t Impress Me Much” hint that she’s team Legend when it comes to a Rosé taste-off? I knew I forgot to ask her something when I saw her perform recently in Las Vegas.
Before you decide if you’re Team Pitt or Team Legend, let’s take a closer look at their Rosés.
Team Pitt’s Miraval Rosé:
The winery is co-owned by Brad Pitt and the Perrin family. The latter is known for its Château de Beaucastel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Pitt bought the property in 2008 with Angelina Jolie.
The first Rosé was produced in 2013. Depending on where you buy it, the current vintage is either 2022 or 2023.
Appellation: Côtes de Provence (in the commune of Correns, France’s first organic village).
Soil is a mix of clay and limestone. Vineyards are terraced at an average of 1,200 feet above sea level.
Château Miraval is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle (a.k.a Vermentino).
It was made using a mix of direct pressing (Cinsault, Grenache and Rolle) and the saignée method for the Syrah (wherein a small amount of the juice intended for red wine is bled off and used to make Rosé). This helps intensify the flavors and its similar to sauce reduction in cooking. The wine was primarily aged in stainless steel tanks, but a small percentage spent time in oak barrels.
In the glass, it’s pale pink. On the nose you get strawberries and other red fruits with a hint of citrus. There is some minerality. It’s balanced, dry and fruity. An elegant and well-rounded summer wine. Can be served as an aperitif, but it also pairs well with food.
There are a range of dishes including grilled vegetables, salad Niçoise, salmon, seafood, grilled chicken with herbs, and bloomy rind cheeses, watermelon, strawberries and Rosé sorbet that would be perfect pairings.
Price = $22.99 at Total Wine. It’s also a Vintages essential at the LCBO in Canada. The price is CA$23.95 (on sale).
Recent Rating: Wine Enthusiast 90 points.
Team Legend’s LVE Rosé:
Legend Vineyard Exclusive (LVE) is a collaboration between Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) winning singer John Legend and Jean-Charles (JC) Boisset of the Boisset Collection. The pair met through a mutual friend and decided to work together. After launching a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Red Blend, the pair decided to create a Provençal Rosé. In 2017, LVE Rosé was born.
Appellation: Languedoc.
Soil is a mix of clay, limestone and sandstone with each bringing a different element to the wine.
LVE Rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan.
The grapes, from distinct plots, are vinified separately. After low temperature fermentation, the juice spends three months on the lees with occasional stirring. The wine is aged in stainless steel.
Pale salmon in the glass. On the nose, it’s all about tree fruit with notes of green apple, apricot and peach. On the palate, there’s a hint of strawberry. It’s light-bodied versatile, and easy drinking.
LVE Rosé is food-friendly. It pairs well with olives, soft cheeses, charcuterie, salty nuts, fish tacos, veggie skewers, summer salads and Rosé sorbet.
Price = $23.99 at Wine.com. It’s also available at the LCBO in Canada for CA$29.99.
Recent Rating: Beverage Dynamics 95 points.
So, which one wins the taste-off? That’s up to you. You must let your palate be the judge. Bottom-line: These are two quaffable Rosé wines that are the very definition of summer. Remember to drink them chilled. Let me know what team you end up on, and please add any other comments or questions below. Cheers!
My passion for the wine lifestyle began when I worked at a boutique winery in an emerging wine region. It continues today with wine and food travel. I am also the wine columnist for the Vegas Voice, the largest and most read senior (Age 50+) monthly publication in Nevada. Additionally, I co-host a wine club where we swirl, sip, taste and pair different varietals on a monthly basis.