Over the past couple of weeks, we have been exploring more French wines and international rosés. Also, I ran across three terrific new values from Walla Walla Vintners along with some great clearance deals.

More French Wines

2017 Paul Thomas Sancerre "Les Comtesses" ($29.99 - wine.com) - This comes from Chavignol, one of the best climats of Sancerre and Paul Thomas is a respected producer. Produced from Sauvignon Blanc, this shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and perfumed aromas of pear, peach, lime, gooseberry, white flowers, wet stone and white smoke. The flavors are saline and precise, with notes of pear skin, lime peel and white chalk. The resonant finish is finely fruited and crisp. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Paul Thomas Sancerre Rouge ($25.99 - wine.com) - Most Sancerre is white, but some red is produced from Pinot Noir. This one shows a medium ruby-crimson color and lovely aromas of fraises de bois, red currants, pomegranate, red roses, mulberry and whiffs of brambles and wood smoke. The medium bodied flavors are appealing as well, with  notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, tea and upper Loire alluvial minerals. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs on the way to a pleasingly supple soft tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2016 Château de Coulaine Chinon ($33 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley shows a deep ruby color and enticing aromas of raspberries, cherries, plums, black roses, mulberry, tobacco, anise and incense. The flavors are thick and chewy with ample yet focused red and blue fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and alluvial minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted nuts and kirsch, followed by a satisfying ripe finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie, "L'Alchemiste" ($29 - The Thief) - This Cru Beaujolais features a ruby color and enticing aromas of strawberry, cherry, red currant, crushed roses, wildflowers, and whiffs of sweet incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, brimming with red fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee beans and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine turns velvety textured, with sensations of gently pressed berries and fraise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a silky moderate tannin finish. A real charmer. 18.5/20 points.

2016 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc ($39.99 - wine.com) - This Roussanne-Grenache Blanc combination displays a deep gold color and a voluptuous nose of ripe fruits - pear, peach, apricot - and intriguing scents of pear tree blossoms, jasmine, butternut, anise and meadow grass. The flavors, as well, are distinctive, with notes of pear skin, peach stone, herbal tea and minerals. On the back, bright fruit acids counterpoint notes of creme fraiche and toffee, along with poire and pêche liqueurs, all melding together into a long, again voluptuous yet precise finish. 19/20 points. 

2016 Alain Jaume Gigondas, "Terrasses de Montmirial" ($35.99 - wine.com) - Predominately Grenache, this South Rhone wine shows a deep purplish-ruby color and an intoxicating nose of blackberry, black plum, black currant, black roses, sweet tobacco, lavender, olive tapenade and spiced incense. The dark fruit flavors are big and bold, infused with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and Montmirial stony earth. On the back, the wine turns sweetish, yet firm, with sensations of roasted berries and nuts, creme de cassis and charcoal, followed by a savory, ripe chewy tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2016 Les Pallières Gigondas, "Terasse du Diable" ($35.99 -wine.com) - This 90% Grenache (with 5% each of Mourvèdre and Clairette) wine shows a deep ruby color and an intense, smoky nose of black currant, blackberry, blueberry, black roses, lavender, anise, garrigue and oriental incense. On the palate, the flavors are deep and penetrating (from 50 year-old vines) with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa, black tea, and granitic minerals. The wine intensifies on the back with roasted berries and nuts and charcoal, and then fleshes out with touches of mocha and lanolin on the smooth tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

More International Rosés

2018 Zenato Bardolino Chiaretto ($18 - The Thief) - Bardolino is situated on the east shore of Lake Garda in Northern Italy and Chiaretto is the Veronese name for rosé. Copper-pink colored, this emits fresh aromas of strawberry, cherry, tangerine, rosebuds and cherry blossoms. The flavors are bright and lively, with red fruits that are accented by touches of red licorice, kirsch and tangerine peel, followed by a crisp, nicely fruited dry finish. "Pretty from beginning to end," says Lynn. 18+/20 points.

2018 Maison L'Envoyé Beaujolais Rosé, "Le Saint Pâle" ($15.99 - wine.com) - Produced from Gamay Noir, this attractively priced Rosé shows a light pink color and fragrant aromas of strawberry, red currant, tangerine, spring flowers, orange blossoms, and pink incense.The flavors are fresh and sprightly, with notes of fraise and cassis liqueurs and recurring tangerine peel on the nicely juiced finish. 18/20 points.

2018 Domaine Collette Marsannay Rosé ($21 - The Thief) - Marsannay is situated at the north end of the Côte d'Or. Produced from Pinot Noir, this shows a brilliant pink color and lovely aromas of strawberry, red currant, tangerine, red roses, wildflowers and pink incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with nicely extracted red fruits that are accented by tangerine peel and granitic minerals, followed by fraise and cassis liqueurs on a pleasingly juicy finish. 18+/20 points.

2018 Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Rosé ($26 - The Thief) - Produced from Pinot Noir, this displays a light pink color and lovely aromas of strawberries, cherries, red currants, pink rose petals, cherry blossoms and white smoke. The flavors are fresh and vibrant, with notes of grape skin, fraise and cassis liqueurs and saline minerals, followed by a pleasingly juicy and resonant dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2018 HITO Rosado, Ribera del Duero ($18- The Thief) - Light pink colored, this Tempranillo Rosé possesses floral aromas of strawberries, cherries, orange peel, cherry blossoms, lavender and whiffs of lightly spiced pink incense. The flavors are bright and deft, nicely extracted, with notes of strawberry and cherry liqueurs and recurring orange peel on the crisp, dry finish. 18/20 points.

The following two Washington Rosés are to be reviewed in the August issue of the Review of Washington Wines. Here are capsule reviews.

2018 Three Rivers Estate Cabernet Franc Rosé, Walla Walla Valley ($18) - Light pink colored this has floral aromas of strawberry, Rainier Cherry and pink grapefruit. The flavors are light and refreshing with notes of grape skin and citrus peel, followed by a crisp finish. 18/20 points.

2018 Helix by Reininger Sangiovese Rosé, Columbia Valley, Stillwater Creek Vineyard ($20) - Copper tinged pink, this emits aromas of strawberry, Rainier cherry and pink grapefruit with scents of pink flowers and pink incense. The flavors are fresh and sprightly, leading the way to crisp, nicely fruited finish. 18+/20 points. 

Super Bargains from Walla Walla Vintners

Last Saturday, I visited Walla Walla Vintners to check out their new Bello Rosso wines from the Heart of the Hill Vineyard on Red Mountain. They are called an "exclusive limited-run line of Red Mountain wines." Priced at $15 a bottle, they are bargains that are not to be missed. They are intended for the winery club, but if you go there, you may be able to obtain them. 

2016 Bello Rosso Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($15) - This 50/50 combination offers a deep ruby color and ripe aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, rosebuds, tobacco leaf and whiffs of incense. The flavors are medium bodied and direct, yet robust, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder and Red Mountain calcareous earth. The back picks up macerated berries and toffee, followed but a Tuscan-like dryish moderate tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2016 Bello Rosso Carmenère, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($15) - Semi opaque ruby colored, this possesses a rich, smoky nose of blackberry, cherry, Damson plum, black roses, dark tobacco, mint and incense. The flavors are thick and direct, with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and minerals. The wine tightens up a bit on the back with roasted berries and nuts and charcoal on the finish. 18/20 points.

2015 Bello Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Heart of the Hill Vineyard ($15) - This is a thick and direct Cabernet. Deep ruby colored, it emits rich aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum with scents of crushed roses, mulberry, tobacco and wood smoke. The flavors are mouth filling, with generous yet focused dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cola and Red Mountain scorched earth. The wine soften up a bit on the back with roasted berries and nuts, followed by a chewy moderate tannin finish. 18/20 points.