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VARIETAL
ROSÉ and VIN GRIS
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May
13, 2002 • WestAmerica Bank
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 Beautiful!
Had we chosen any other wines, either reds or whites, we
couldn't possibly have assembled a flight with as much
pleasure for the dollar. Our panel agreed that, not only
did this group of wines look lovely, it was also pure joy
to drink them -- one of our most thoroughly enjoyable
tastings. Despite a range of colors, styles, flavors and
sugar and acid levels, nearly all were quite delicious,
including a "home made" ringer. A clear favorite did
emerge from "Down Under" the flight. Our local scholarly
wine, made by students at CSUF, was a solid second. These
top rated wines had something in common: a little dose of
white varietal was included in their blends. All wines
but one retail for under US$20 and four can be had for
less than US$10. Assorted cheeses, crackers and fruit
were fine accompaniments, but I look forward to enjoying
a couple of these lovelies with roasted chicken and fruit
salsa.
( some of the
bottles mysteriously disappeared before their portraits
could be taken, so we have substituted other images
)
Brand
Varietal /
"Type"
Vintage, Appellation,
Vineyard
TASTING
NOTES:
Color; aroma; flavor; body;
balance; finish. Alcohol. Varietal
composition
(if known). Summary. ($
paid)
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Wines are considered
Equal Quality
Within Categories of Recommendation
(Listed
Alphabetically by Brand)
consensus
terms appear in bold
(possible flaws? are in brackets)
* indicates a second or third party
WEBSITE
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VERY HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED
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 Charles
Melton
2001 "Rose of
Virginia" Barossa
Valley, Australia
Transparent
dark cranberry, raspberry sherbet color -
darkest of the flight; fresh, bold, bright
red cherry, strawberry,
Gamay-like fruit with floral, rose
petal, sweet pea and spicy caraway,
peppermint aromas; lots of fruit with
red raspberry, cherry, citrus
flavors; light body; crisp, slightly
tart balance; long, mouthwatering
finish. 11.5% alcohol. (34% Shiraz, 28%
Grenache, 18% Pinot [Noir?], 15%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Riesling). Lovely to
look at, lovely to touch, lovely to taste;
Rose of Virginia was clearly the Belle of
this Ball. ($14) WEBSITE
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HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED
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Fresno
State
2001
"Rosé" California
Clear, bright,
dark pink color; very clean, very fruity,
perfumed and floral, berries, citrus,
grapefruit aromas; slightly sweet, juicy, fresh,
fruity, strawberry flavors; buttery feel,
slightly rich body; great balance, sweet
and tart; pleasant, crisp,
lingering finish. 14.5% alcohol. A blend of 35%
Zinfandel, 30% Barbera, 25% Syrah, 5%
super-cold-fermented Chardonnay, 2.5% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 2% Muscat Canelli and .5% Orange
Muscat. This is an excellent wine with many
elements and universal appeal. "Just delicious!
I would drink this with any of my friends , on
the porch, in the backyard, anywhere ..." says
Bob. ($7) BEST
BUY
WEBSITE
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 Williams-Selyem
2001
"Vin Gris of Pinot Noir"
Russian
River Valley
Clear, very
pale, straw, peach, cream color; floral,
peach, pear and yeasty, buttery aromas
with faint off-ester that airs out after a few
seconds (ethyl acetate?, swampy?); soft,
off-dry, fresh, but subtle vanilla, peach and
fruit flavors; smooth, rich mouthfeel, medium
body; excellent balance, crisp
(one taster thought "too sweet"); pleasant,
lingering finish with a faint bit of
heat. 13.2% alcohol. 100% Pinot Noir. One taster
thought this had a
Marsannne-Viognier-Rhône-like quality.
($17) WEBSITE
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RECOMMENDED
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 Chateau
Routas
2000
"Rouviere"
Appellation Controlée Coteaux
Varois
Clear, pale
peach, coppery salmon color; light, delicate
apricot, peach, pear, lemon, or citrus fruit
with minerals, wood shavings, yeast in
the aroma; quite dry, very light
grapefruit, "flat" Champagne or "tea" flavors;
soft, rich body; lightly tart balance; faint
bitterness in the long finish. 12.5% alcohol.
(40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Cinsault). Very
light in the fruit department, yet complex with
minerally. invigorating flavors that many
tasters found refreshing. ($9) WEBSITE
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 Fife
2001 "Redhead
Rosé"
Mendocino
Slightly hazy,
pale cranberry, strawberry color; ripe tomato
aroma with burnt, charcoal, heavy oak and
toast elements and a subtle, but lingering
barnyard presence (rubber?, skunky?,
H2S?);
soft, fruity, complex, pleasant flavors;
body; good balance (flabby?); soft,
somewhat lingering toasty finish. 14.2%
alcohol. A blend of Carignan, Sangiovese and
Syrah (percentages undisclosed). Easy and light
to drink, although initial aromas are rather
aggressive, slightly off-putting. Drink
well-chilled. ($13) WEBSITE
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 (home
made)
1998 "Antonio's
Rosé"
(Modesto,
Cowell Ranch)
Clear, light
burnt orange, coppery, almost caramel color;
overripe, maderized, caramelized, sherry,
nutty, earthy and alcoholic aromas;
sweet, buttery, spicy, oxidized flavors
have ponderous fruit, but lack freshness; soft,
heavy, full body, rich mouthfeel; soft
balance (low acid?, flabby?); faint tannin and
bitterness, definite heat in the finish. 14.2%
alcohol. 100% Sangiovese. This wine is very
unusual; Bob (designated poet-wino) says,
"tastes like David Lynch made it - shows a dark
side, but from a fresh perspective." (not for
sale) WEBSITE
n/a
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 Saintsbury
2001 "Vincent
Vin Gris"
Carneros
Clear, dark
bright cherry red color; tight,
cranberry, raspberry fruit,
Beaujolais-like aroma, hint of oak;
fruity, but not fresh, cherry-berry and melon,
slightly buttery, earthy flavors; light to
medium body; quite tart balance; finishes
slightly hot, faintly bitter. 13.5% alcohol.
100% Pinot Noir. Had we not known the parameters
of the theme, this could easily have been
mistaken for real Beaujolais. Alcohol
interfered slightly with the flavors here, so
this one is best drunk with food. ($10)
WEBSITE
n/a
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TASTED
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NOT
RECOMMENDED
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 Bonny
Doon
2000
"Vin Gris de
Cigare"
California
Pale, burnt
orange, coral, dark peach color; light,
pear, orange peel, melon, candy apple, tomato
and fresh floral aromas with a slightly smoky,
burnt note (SO2?);
dry, slightly oxidized, somewhat "washed-out",
lacking in fruit flavor; rich, round, buttery,
velvety body; slightly tart balance; finish is a
little rough, hot and bitter. 12.8% alcohol.
Varietal blend includes grenache, syrah,
mourvedre, and cinsault; the 2001 vintage
"features a substantial volume of the white
grape marsanne." Perfectly drinkable, but not
very enticing or exciting; was probably much
better six months ago. ($8) WEBSITE
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 Tablas
Creek
2000
Rose
Paso
Robles ESTATE
Burnt orange
color; burnt strawberry, "old root beer",
"old fermentation", pungent, smoky, oaky aromas
are not at all inviting; green, sour fruit, oak
and cardboard, filter-pad flavors;
body; very tart balance; stemmy,
bitter tannins; hot,
alcoholic finish. 14.1% alcohol. (52%
Mourvedre, 26% Grenache, 22% Counoise). This
wine is so overblown, it is just plain nasty!
The winemaker must have been smoking big cheap-o
cigars and eating limburger to let this one get
so far over-the-top; and then, they must
have been drinking grappa by the bucketful in
order to screw up the courage to price it! ($29)
WEBSITE
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This
Panel
included Regulars Deanna, Bob, Jim, Betsy
and Steve and Guest Antonio
About
Rosé
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