Over the past few weeks, we have been sampling a bunch of Rosé wines, mostly from France, but including some from other countries. Here are my notes.

French Rosés

2018 Château de Campuget Costières de Nimes Rosé ($10.19 - Safeway) - Composed 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah, this Southwest Rhone Rosé offers a light pink-copper color and attractive aromas of pink peach, red cherry, pink grapefruit, cherry blossoms, lavender and white incense. The flavors are fresh and lively, with notes of grape skin, peach stone and kirsch, followed by a nicely fruited dry finish. At just over $10 a bottle, this is a bargain. 18/20 points.

2018 Château de Campuget "1753" Costières de Nimes Rosé ($18.99 - wine.com) - This Reserve bottling is 80% Syrah and 20% Verementino. It shows a light copper-pink color and aromas of raspberry, pink peach, and orange peel. The Vermentino (a Mediterranean variety) Introduces intriguing scents of orange blossoms, lavender and white incense. The flavors are nicely extracted, with notes peach stone, orange peel and minerals and the back picks up framboise pêche liqueurs on the dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Triennes Rosé Mediteranée ($17.99 - wine.com) - The back label states "At the center of the blend is the Consult which provided freshness and elegance." It shows a light copper-pink color and floral aromas of strawberries, red currants, pink grapefruit, spring flowers, lavender and white incense. The flavors are charming, deftly extracted, imbued with fraise and cassis liqueurs and citrus peel, followed by a nicely fruited finish. Its vivacity gives it a plus. 18.5+/20 points.

2018 Gérard Bertrand "Côtes des Roses" Languedoc Rosé ($13.99 - Safeway) - This combinaton of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault offers a light copper-pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, orange peel, red roses, pink lilac and whiffs of incense. The flavors are appealing with bright fruits that are accented by grape skin, fraise liqueur, pomegranate seeds and recurring orange peel, followed by a fresh finish. 18+/20 points.

2018 AIX Côteaux de Provence Rosé ($18.99 - wine.com) - Light copper-tinged pink colored, this possesses attractive aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, red currant and tangerine, with scents of wildflowers, lavender and Provençal herbs. The flavors are light and sprightly, with notes of grape skin, tangerine peel and minerals. The back picks ups fraise and cassis liqueurs and recurring orange peel on the nicely fruited dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Château La Roque Pic Saint-Loup Rosé ($19.99 - wine.com) - Composed of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 30% Syrah this comes on like a white wine from red grapes. Light gold colored, it possesses aromas of pink peach, cantaloupe, grapefruit, Rainier cherry, spring flowers and white incense. The flavors are exuberantly fresh and juicy with grape skins, melon rind and saline minerals. The back picks up kirsch and grapefruit peel followed by a zingy finish. For fans of pale rosés, this gets 18.5/20 points.

2018 Rimauresq "cru classé" Côtes de Provence Rosé ($21.99 - wine.com) - Light copper colored, this offers attractive aromas of strawberry, pear, pink peach and grapefruit with scents of pear blossoms, lavender and white incense. The flavors are bright and fresh, with notes of grape skin, peach stone and minerals. The back reveals fraise and pêche liqueurs and grapefruit peel, followed by a crisp dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

German Rosé

2018 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé, Pfalz ($13.99 - wine.com) - This is a delightful sipping rosé. It shows a brilliant pink-copper color and enticing aromas of strawberries, cherries, pink grapefruit, cherry blossoms, and spring flowers. The flavors are deliciously crisp and clean, with notes of grape skin and citrus peel. The back picks up strawberry and cherry liqueurs and a bit of spritz on the way to a zippy, not too dry finish. 18/20 points.

Oregon Rosés

2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards "Whole Cluster" Rosé of Pinot Noir ($16.29 - Safeway) - Produced from free run uncrushed grapes, this shows a brilliant pink color and enticing aromas of strawberry, Rainier cherry, watermelon, pink roses, pink lilac and white incense. The flavors, as well, are attractive, with fresh, pure Pinot fruits dancing on the palate, accented by fraise and cerise liqueurs and melon rind, followed by a crisp finish. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley ($20.29 - Safeway) - Harvested manually, this offers a brilliant pink color and lovely aromas of wild strawberries, cranberries and red currants with scents of red rose petals, pink lilac and white incense. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with nicely extracted red fruits that are imbued with grape skin, fraise and cassis liqueurs and orange peel, followed by a juicy finish. 18.5/20 points.

Watch for the June issue of the Review of Washington Wines which goes on line May 24 for new reviews of Washington Rosés.

The 2017 Beaujolais Wines

One of Burgundy's most popular wines is Beaujolais, produced in the region between the Maconnais and Lyons. The principal grape is Gamay which was grown widely in Burgundy during the middle ages until 1395, when the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe the Bold ("Le Hardi") banned the production of Gamay, which he considered inferior to Pinot Noir, in the Côte d'Or. This pushed the Gamay grape southward. But, while not as noble as Pinot Noir, the wines of Beaujolais are very fine, indeed. We have been sampling some 2017 Beaujolais and have found them most enjoyable.

2017 Domaines Dominique Piron Brouilly ($19.99 - wine.com) - Purplish ruby colored, this possesses enticing aromas of strawberries, red currants, red prunes, red roses, mulberry, purple lilac and brambles. The flavors are charmingly ripe and fleshy, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and granitic minerals. The back reveals pressed berries and fraise and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a pleasingly juicy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Domaines Dominique Piron Morgon, Côte du Py ($19.99 - wine.com) - This shows a ruby-crimson color and rich, earthy aromas of fraises de bois, black currants and plums with scents of crushed roses, mulberry and sweet spiced incense. The flavors are ample, yet deep and focused, marked by licorice, cocoa powder and granitic minerals. The back reveals pressed berries, fraise and cassis liqueurs and toffee, followed by a ripe, chewy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Château Thivin Brouilly "Reverdon" ($26.99 - wine.com) - From the lower slopes of Brouilly, this shows a ruby color and rich aromas of strawberries, red currants, rosebuds, bayberry, sweet pea flowers and whiffs of incense. The flavors are ample and mouth filling, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder and earth. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs and touches of nougat and orange peel, followed by a juicy moderate tannin finish that is lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly ($29.99 - wine.com) - The Côte de Brouilly is the slope above Brouilly. This version displays a semi opaque purple-crimson color and a seductive nose of raspberry, black currant, plum, roses petals and violets. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with vigorous yet velvety red and black fruits that are endowed with licorice, cocoa and schist minerals. The penetration continues on the back with pressed fruits, roasted nuts, light charcoal and balanced tannins. Invigorating fruit acids bring this wine to a highly satisfying finish. 19/20 points.

2017 Jean-Marc Burgaud Beaujolais-Villages "Les Vignes de Latigné" ($18.99 - wine.com) - This presents a ruby color and attractive aromas of fraises de bois, red currants, red roses, mulberry and wood smoke. The medium bodied flavors are ripe and generous yet robust, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder and earth. The back reveals gently pressed berries, fraise and cassis liqueurs and touches of mocha and toffee, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2017 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, Côte du Py ($21.99 - wine.com) - Ruby-crimson colored, this wine emits rich, earthy aromas of raspberry, black currant and plum with scents of rosebuds, brambles and incense. The robust flavors mirror the aromatics with thick and direct red and black fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa and earth. The chewy textured back picks up roasted berries and nuts, followed by a grainy yet juicy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, "Les Charmes" ($23.99 - wine.com) - This is a robust yet charming Morgon. It shows a deep ruby color and smoky aromas of raspberry, cherry, black currant, crushed roses, purple lilac and wood smoke. The flavors are generous yet focused, with notes of red licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. The chewy textured back reveals roasted berries and nuts, framboise and cerise liqueurs and graphite followed by a slightly grainy ripe tannin finish. The elegance gives it a plus. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent, "Vieilles Vignes" *($27.99 - wine.com) - This shows a deep ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of fraises de bois, raspberry, red currants, red roses, forest carpet and oriental incense. The flavors are medium bodied yet vigorous, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and minerals earth. The back picks up pressed berries, creme de cassis, framboise and touches of nougat and orange peel, followed by a chewy ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Clos de la Roillette Fleurie ($24.99 - wine.com) - Medium ruby colored, this possesses a rich, earthy nose of fraises de bois, red currants, cherries, red roses and whiffs of tobacco and white incense. The flavors are supple, yet authoritative, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, medium roast coffee and schist minerals. On the back, the wine picks up intensity, with sensations of macerated berries, grilled meats, and kirsch and cassis liqueurs, followed by a velvety moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Domaine Chignard Fleurie, "Les Moriers" ($27.99 - wine.com) - Deep purplish ruby colored, this wine emits lovely aromas of fraises de bois, framboise and cassis, with scents of crushed roses, violets and incense. The flavors are medium bodied but vigorous, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder and stony minerals. The back reveals sensations of gently pressed berries, toasted nuts, creme de cassis and soft graphite, followed by a smooth yet penetrating moderate tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Domaine Chignard Juliénas, "Beauvernay" ($25.99 - wine.com) - This wine presents a deep purplish ruby color and aromas of fraises de bois, black currant, cherries and plums with scents of black roses, purple lilac and wood smoke. The flavors mirror the aromatics with red and purple fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee and minerals. The back picks up kirsch and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a chewy, ripe moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

Most Beaujolais is red wine but a small amount of white wine from the Chardonnay grape is made as well as some Rosé from the Gamay grape. 

2017 Jean-Marc Bourgaud Beaujolais-Villages Blanc ($22.99 - wine.com) - This Chardonnay sports a brilliant lemon-gold color and fresh aromas of Bosc pear, white peach, grapefruit, pear blossoms, acacia flowers and white incense. The flavors are fresh and lively, true to variety, with notes of peach stones and granitic minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs and grapefruit peel, followed by a crisp, nicely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Domaine du Thoulon Beaujolais-Villages Rosé ($11.99 - wine.com) - Brilliant copper-pink colored, this possesses intriguing aromas of wild strawberries, pomegranates, orange peel, rose petals, pink lilac and white incense. The flavors are nicely fruited and extracted, with notes of grape skins, pomegranate seeds and minerals. The back picks up fraise liqueur and recurring orange eel, followed by a pleasantly juicy finish. 18/20 points.