Gin Mare

When I first turned 21 — and ahem, probably slightly before then, if I’m being honest — gin & tonics were my drink of choice.

With their breezy nature and not overtly boozy taste, they hit the spot, especially in summer. But as my palate matured, gin & tonics were supplanted by wine.

Until now.

When I received a sample bottle of Gin Mare ($40), a unique Mediterranean-style gin from Barcelona, it reignited my passion for gin & tonics.

Packaged in a weighty and distinctive bottle, it’s distilled from barley with such botanicals as Arbequina olives, thyme, rosemary and basil.

And let me tell you, it makes a wicked good, dangerously addictive gin & tonic that tastes fresh from the garden. That’s no surprise given how much Spaniards love their G&Ts.

It’s sure to get your gin & tonic groove going, too. Find it at Total Wine & More.

Cheers: If you turn up your nose at the more juniper-forward, medicinal tasting gins on the market, this one is for you. It’s definitely got a gentler, more accessible flavor profile but one that really satisfies.

2019 Peyrassol Cuvée de la Commanderie

With its delicate rose-gold hue, the 2019 Peyrassol Cuvée de la Commanderie ($20) is deceptive. It looks so light in color, so the first sip of this full-bodied wine catches you by surprise.

I had a chance to sample a bottle of this Cotes de Provence rosé that’s a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, giving it a striking complexity.

Aged in stainless steel, it’s crisp with lively acidity. It smells like a big bowl of strawberries and raspberries, and has an edge of brininess and minerality.

Cheers: Get your hands on some fresh salmon to grill or poach, because this rosé is its ideal companion.

2019 Frescobaldi Alie Rosé

When it comes to rosés, Provence hogs the limelight. But let’s shine a little attention on Italy.

Named after the Greek sea nymph Halia, Frescobaldi’s 2019 Ali Rosé ($18) is made from a blend of Syrah and Vermintino, grown in Tuscany.

The ballet slipper-pink wine comes in an elegant port-shape bottle. Dry and crisp, it’s got lively acidity and earthy minerality. It screams of raspberries and strawberries with a hint of citrus on the palate, and a big bouquet of white blossoms on the nose. It has me craving a big bowl of seafood pasta to enjoy with it.

Cheers: This wine begs to be sipped outdoors. So grab it — and a corkscrew — and head to the beach, a picnic spot or just your own backyard.

More: What I’ve Been Drinking of Late, Part 1

And: What I’ve Been Drinking of Late, Part 2

And: What I’ve Been Drinking of Late, Part 4

And: What I’ve Been Drinking of Late, Part 5

And: What I’ve Been Drinking of Late, Part 6