Reverse Wine Snob

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
  • Aldi® Picks
  • Costco® Picks
  • Trader Joe’s® Picks
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
menu icon
go to homepage
Get Our Free Guide!
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE GUIDE!
  • Insider Deals
  • Best Of Lists
    • - Costco
    • - Trader Joe's
    • - Aldi
  • About
  • The Rating System
  • More Helpful Links
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé - Fantastic!

    By: Jon Thorsen Published: June 1, 2021 Last Updated: June 1, 2021

    Revisiting an old favorite, the Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé.

    Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé - Fantastic!

    71% Grenache, 11% Cinsaut, 5% Clairette Blanche, 5% Grenache Blanc, 4% Vermentino and 4% Mourvedre from the Central Coast of California: 52% Monterey, 19% Paso Robles, 19% Arroyo Seco, 5% Santa Ynez Valley and 5% San Lucas.

    Sample submitted for review. The Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé has an SRP of $15, but is available for as low as $12.

    From the bottle:

    Vin Gris de Cigare? Vin Gris is a pink wine made from the lightest pressings of red grapes, typically pale in color and elegant in fragrance. As to flying "Cigares" (French slang for UFOs): In 1954 a village in Châteauneuf-du-Pape wisely adopted an ordinance prohibiting the landing of such spacecraft in local vineyards. The regulations have worked exceptionally well in discouraging alien landings. We essay to be equally far-sighted in our winemaking and grape-growing practices, seeking the restor ation of vital life-forces to our soils, and championing the notion of the farm as a more integral entity. Thus, our winemaking practice is exceptionally light-handed, with minimal manipulation and intervention. Enjoy our pink wine of the earth.

    Vinted & Bottled by Bony Doon Vineyard
    13.5% Alcohol

    Made with a healthy dose Rhone white varietals in a style called Vin Gris, today's wine is not technically a true rosé wine which is made exclusively from red grapes. Regardless this bottle has been one of my very favorite pink wines since we reviewed the 2010 vintage many years ago. That said, while still an excellent value we didn't think the 2020 was quite up to the same lofty standards as some of its predecessors (previous vintages have even ended up on our Top 10 White & Rosé lists).

    The 2020 Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé begins with a very pleasing aroma of strawberry and watermelon plus a little cranberry, tangerine, granny smith apple and even a hint of mint.

    Tasting the wine shows it to be dry, crisp, fresh and quite good. It has similar flavors as the nose but they are a bit more tart in the mouth. It also has good balance, acidity and complexity with a smooth, round mouthfeel but this vintage just lacks a bit of the depth of flavor that some previous renditions had.

    Stony minerality along with a bit of saltiness comes out on the medium long, dry finish.

    This is an extremely drinkable wine that is so crisp and fresh that you could almost guzzle it on a hot day. Not only that but it will also pair with a wide variety of foods, making for year-round enjoyment.

    See a listing of local retailers selling the Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé here.

    2020 Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé

    Taste: 8       Cost: 7
    Overall Rating: 7.8

    Highly Recommended

    A perennial pick for our list of The Best Rosé Under 20!

    The Best Rosé Wines - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

    Filed Under: California, Highly Recommended, Rosé, Thanksgiving

    << INSIDER DEAL! Pedroncelli Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels - AUTOBUY!!
    Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon - Consistently Good >>

    About Jon Thorsen

    Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! Read more about me...

    Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals Header Square
    Limited Time offers with amazing discounts just for our readers.

    Don't Miss Out!

    About Reverse Wine Snob

    Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good! Jon Thorsen is an independent wine consumer who has been helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob® sign up for my free guide and don't miss our exclusive Insider Deals! Read more about Reverse Wine Snob in the news and about me.

    Reverse Wine Snob Logo

    The "Perfect 10" Pack!

    Insider Deal Perfect 10 Pack!Four of our highest rated wines, all with 10 Taste Ratings (94+ points), all from different wineries, and all offered at a huge discount! Get them while you can.

    More Info

    Join over 450,000 followers on social media!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Get Our Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine Without Breaking The BankReady to start drinking the best wine of your life, and save money doing it? Sign up for our 5 Day Free Guide!

    Learn More

    Helpful Links

    • - Ask The Expert Series
    • - Browse by Variety, Region, etc.
    • - Buy My Book on Amazon
    • - Get Our Free Guide
    • - How To Choose A Good Bottle of Wine
    • - Insider Deals
    • - Insider Deal FAQ
    • - Printable Lists of Recommended Wines
    • - Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • - The Rating System
    • - Wine Tasting Basics

    • - Advertise
    • - Contact Info
    • - Submit Samples for review

    How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Tired of wasting money on bad wine? Sign up for our Free Guide!

    No commitments, no spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Best Of Lists!

      • - Aldi Wine
      • - Best Pizza Wines
      • - Best Red Wines of 2022
      • - Box Wines
      • - Cabernet Sauvignon
      • - Chardonnay
      • - Chianti
      • - Costco Wine
      • - French Wines
      • - Italian Wines
      • - Malbec
      • - Merlot
      • - Oregon Wines
      • - Organic Wines
      • - Pinot Noir
      • - Red Blends
      • - Rosé
      • - Riesling
      • - Sauvignon Blanc
      • - Spanish Wines
      • - Sparkling Wine
      • - Syrah
      • - Thanksgiving Wines
      • - Trader Joe's Wine
      • - Vegan Wines
      • - Zinfandel
      • And Many More Best of Lists

    Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

    Copyright © 2011–2023 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy