The story of Maison No. 9 begins, of all interesting times, during the 61st Grammy Awards Ceremony. Musician Post Malone had recently been introduced to James Morrissey, and the two hit it off over their mutual love of French wines.
The discussion quickly turned to the fact that they found themselves and their friends drinking more Rosé in recent years but hadn’t found a blend or brand that stood out as their favorite.
It was then and there that the decision was made to launch a new and exceptional brand in the classic Provence style.
Between tour dates, Post and his friends visited the vineyard on the French Riviera and sampled over 50 different blends composed of varying varietals before settling on the one which I am fortunate enough to have my hands on today.
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Maison No. 9 Rosé Review
Rosé wine is made using red grapes but with incredibly short contact with the skin.
While typical red wine stays in contact with the skin for months during maturation, rosé typically only sees a few hours of skin contact, which helps keep the wine delicate and light.
This particular wine is a blend made up entirely of French grape varietals, with the composition being 45% Grenache Noir, 25% Cinsault, 15% Merlot, and 15% Syrah.
Post Malone named the wine Maison No. 9 after his favorite tarot card, the Nine of Swords.
Maison No. 9 Rosé
- Brand: Maison No. 9
- Country: France
- Region: Provence
- Wine Type: Rosé Wine
- Varietals: Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Merlot, and Syrah
- ABV: 12.5%
Appearance
This wine is a typical “Provencial pink” color, sporting just the slightest amount of color from the skin contact.
Light, clean, watery legs cascade down the glass.
Smell
Incredibly delicate aromatics take a bit of effort to tease out of the wine, but the juice is definitely worth the squeeze, so to speak.
Fresh watermelon, rose petals, and just a bit of briny melon come through on the nose.
Everything about the smells of this wine make me want to take it on my next outdoor adventure.
Taste
Super light, super clean, and super crisp. Solid acidity, along with a lightly saline flavor, keeps the mouth watering as fresh red fruit mingles on the palate.
Honeydew, watermelon, and bing cherries are the standout fruit flavors, in my opinion.
The finish is brief, making this an excellent wine as an aperitif or as a palate cleanser for lighter meals.
What Does Maison No. 9 Rosé Pair With?
This wine is a fantastic charcuterie wine. It does amazing things with prosciutto, genoa salami, pickwick cheese, and gouda.
For other light fare, I recommend a nice hummus platter with fresh vegetables.
If you want to go with something a bit heartier for this wine, stick to white meat primarily.
Try grilled marinated chicken breast seasoned with rosemary, oregano, and lemon juice to make the flavor profile robust yet clean.
What Wines Are Similar to Maison No. 9 Rosé?
The first choice here would be other rosé wines from Provence. I thoroughly enjoy Chateau Minuty, Chateau d’Esclans, and Whispering Angel to stick with a similar style.
For something a bit different, try light, clean white wines. Albariño from Spain is a great option and features lots of minerality on a crisp, clean body. Alternatively, try Trebbino from Italy.
Also known as Ugni Blanc in France, this common field varietal is among the cleanest, most delicate grape varietals I have ever had, and they make for fantastic sipping wines whether you are hanging out on the couch or by the pool.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, I am not a huge fan of “celebrity wines.” I have had a lot of unimpressive ones over the years.
That said, it looks like Post Malone has put in some serious time making sure that Maison No. 9 is a great quality, classic French rosé.
Note that I had a 1.5L bottle in this case, but pretty much everything I have said about it will hold true for your standard-sized bottles as well.