Can you identify the link between a Paco Rabane dress, a Just Eat tv commercial, the Dangerous Liaisons movie, a Texan rapper and a tantric sex advocate? The answer is rosé wine. Kylie wore ‘that’ dress; Snoop raps and stars in the tv ad for the food delivery brand; John Malkovich (Vicomte de Valmont) attracted critical acclaim in Stephen Frears’ Oscar-winning, pre-Revolution romantic drama; Post Malone is the Texan dwelling multi-award winning rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor. Sting & Trudie Styler eulogised about the benefits of tantric sex! All have put their name to a rosé that they either produce or are closely involved with. Wines that incidentally are all well regarded by wine writers and critics alike.
I have been served Ms Minogue’s Côtes de Provence Rosé and can confirm it is delicious and a wine I’d be happy to purchase at my own expense (£22 at Harvey Nicholls in case the fancy takes you). Not had the opportunity to try Malkovich’s LQLC Cab Sauv rosé, Snoop’s Cali Rosé nor for that matter Sting’s Tuscan, Beppe Rosato. But to my (and my daughter’s!) delight received a bottle of Post Malone’s recently released IGP Méditerranée rosé Maison No 9. My daughter is a huge fan of Post Malone’s music and so was keen to try a wine closely linked to him. I had heard his name but, to my shame, was somewhat oblivious to his various endeavours. And some endeavours and achievements they are – before we even get round to his wine!
For those of you who, like me, aren’t au courant… Austin Richard Post is a 26 year old hip-hop, R&B, Trap, Rap, Rock musician who has set new records with his music. First up breaking the single week streaming record on Apple Music and then beating Michael Jackson’s 34 year old record for most weeks on ‘Billboard’s Top R&B + Hip-Hop Albums Chart’. He has also written a track for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie. Complementing his stellar music career he has appeared alongside Mark Wahlberg in action comedy film Spenser Confidential and has a role in Guy Ritchie’s new heist thriller Wrath of Man featuring Jason Statham & Josh Hartnett. Post Malone also appears in his own music videos and in one even has a cameo as a medieval knight. He has more ink on his body than “The Illustrated Man”
His father, Rich Post, is Head of Concessions for NFL team Dallas Cowboys. Maybe Post Malone inherited an entrepreneurial spirit from him which is what set him on the path to launch his own wine, because he is no slouch when it comes to developing partnerships and collaborations as his tie up with footwear brand Crocs illustrates. His net worth is already estimated at US$30+ Million
Born from an idea to celebrate Post Malone’s love of the Mediterranean lifestyle and rosé wine in particular, Maison No. 9 is the beautifully bottled result of a collaboration between Post Malone, his music manager Dre London and James Morrissey of Global Brand Equities. These three founders identified Provençal winemaker Alexis Cornu as the right man to perfect the wine and his choice of grapes is a delicious blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Syrah and Merlot.
This beautifully pale pink wine offers intense and inviting aromas of freshly picked fruit; ripe pineapple, melon, pear and strawberry. The clean, dry, crisp finish is balanced and round with a texture that is mouth-filling and
savoury, perfect for enjoying with friends, family or alongside light dishes during the summer months and beyond. I must make mention of the stunning all-glass bottle which is topped off with a solid glass cap shaped into ‘battlements’ that mirror a medieval castle located near the vineyard itself, whilst the name is inspired by Malone’s favourite tarot card Nine of Swords, symbolising triumph over life’s daily challenges. All of this imagery is reflected in the branding and packaging which is quite stunning.
So this summer, pour yourself a glass of Maison No.9, sit back and let yourself be transported to the Mediterranean olive groves, lavender fields, Cypress groves, golden sands and turquoise waters of the Côte d’Azur.
You can find Maison No. 9 rosé in Tesco stores and independent retailers nationwide and at http://www.maison9wine.com/uk at RRP £19 (75cl)
My thanks to Maddy Everington at CUBE Communications for making the wine available to me
Fuseblower 