RESTAURANTS

Photo Courtesy of Eastern Standard

I feel like a broken record because I constantly say that summer in the city of Boston is like no other. That’s because it’s true! Between long strolls or jogs along the Charles, the multitude of sidewalk cafes, patios and roofdecks, Boston truly comes alive during the summer.

Another reason Bostonians cherish summer in the city is the abundance of fresh cuisine, innovative cocktails and chilled vino. Lately, I’ve been looking at the city through rosé colored glasses courtesy of delicious rosé wines. One of my favorite Boston restaurants, Eastern Standard, introduced a great rosé by-the-glass menu back in June and I jumped at the chance to speak with Wine Director Colleen Hein.

I certainly don’t pretend to be a wine expert, but Colleen was great with explaining the differences in rosés to me. She’s very knowledgeable and a delight to speak with, so definitely ask for her the next time you’re in if she’s available!

As a frequent guest at Eastern Standard (one of my top 5 patio’s in Boston), I asked Colleen to share three of her favorite food and rosé pairings. Here are her recommendations:

1) 2010 Chateau Commanderie de Peyrassol ($11 per glass) is described as a quintessential Provencal rosé and pairs perfectly with lighter faire, including grilled seafood and freshly shucked oysters (note: ES has a great raw bar!). Colleen mentioned that this was one of the first rosé wines to come in and it’s absolutely delicious. So magical, apparently, that it could make you think that you’ve actually left Boston and arrived in Provence. Sounds good to me!

2) 2010 Domaine Magellan Cinseault Rosé “Le Fruit Défendu,” ($8 per glass) is a touch sweeter, Colleen said, with a lift of wild strawberry as well as an herbaceous note of garrigue — a term used for a variety of herbs that sprout wild along the roadsides of Southern France. For this reason, it is perfect to order with grilled jumbo prawns, or dishes that feature pesto, as the flavors compliment the herbaceousness of the wine. From the sounds of it, I’d imagine that ES’s Moules Provençale would be good with this rosé.

 3) 2010 Margerum Rosé ($12 per glass) is the newest addition to Eastern Standard’s rosé list. Interestingly, this rosé is a more complex, deeply flavored wine and it pairs well with heartier dishes. Colleen recommends ordering this rosé  with ES’s Steak Tartare, or Charcuterie board (which changes daily at the restaurant). I adore a great charcuterie board, so this rosé is very tempting to me!

Eastern Standard’s Rosé By-The-Glass menu is available through October 10, 2011. I highly recommend scoring a spot on their coveted patio while enjoying a leisurely meal with friends.