Meghan Markle’s New Wine
Wine Sommelier Crystl Horton by © Dan Callister
Wine Sommelier Crystl Horton was tasked with tasting Meghan Markle’s new wine offering by Times writer Bevan Hurley in New York City.
“The colour is a classic salmon pink. It’s definitely aiming for people who want a traditional Provence-style rosé.
“The addition of cabernet sauvignon to the blend is so interesting to me, because it’s such an expensive grape. The nose is perfumed, but not in an offensive way.
“There’s so much going on flavour-wise in this wine. There’s wild strawberries, there’s cherry, there’s quince, there are these sweet baking spices that you would smell when you walked into grandma’s kitchen.
“You could place it in a tasting menu, a pairing menu or omakase. You could match it with a broad spectrum of Asian cuisines from Thai to Indian. The citrus could cut through any fatty or spicy food.
“I have tasted a gazillion rosés, and most of them are a good starter wine to get your palate cleansed and your taste buds to stand up on your tongue. With this, there’s a really pretty bright acid in it. It’s really wonderful.
“A lot of celebrities just slap a label on a bottle, but this really feels like somebody wanted to make this wine with intention. I have met many wonderful winemakers in California, and she has somebody who clearly knows what they’re doing.”
Crystl’s verdict: 9.5 out of 10.
“This is not a porch pounder, it is a serious wine. For $30, it’s a steal.”
Crystl was the wine director at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse New York for two decades and is prestige brand specialist at T Edward Wines & Spirits.
