Below is a bevy of wines we've tasted recently, some new ones, others from our collection.

2019 Château Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc ($48.99 - Esquin) - Web have had impressive vintages from Vieux Lazaret. Composed of 45% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc and 5% barrel fermented Roussanne, this shows a brilliant gold color and ripe aromas of pear, peach, nectarine, tangerine, passion fruit, orange blossoms, honeysuckle, jasmine and white incense. The flavors, as well, are opulent, with rich yellow fruits that are intermixed with grape and pear skins, peach stones and mas minerals. On the back, the wine enrichens further with a leesy texture and pear and peach liqueurs, followed by a lingering, vigorous fruit acid finish. 19+/20 points.

2018 Maison Les Alexandrines Crozes-Hermitage ($26.99 - Safeway) - This is the first Crozes-Hermitage I've seen in supermarket. This one shows an inky purplish color and an intense nose of dark fruits - black currants, black cherries, black plums - with scents of black roses, madero wrapped, lavender and sultry incense. The flavors are thick, almost massive, with dark fruits that are infused with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and calcareous minerals. The penetration continues on the back with macerated fruits, roasted walnuts, mocha and charcoal, all followed by a savory lingering ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2020 Régis Minet Pouilly Fumé, "Vielles Vignes" ($29.90 - Foodscape. Walla Walla, $32.99 - Esquin) - This is our go-to  Sauvignon Blanc (Blanc Fumé) from the upper Loire Valley. Light straw colored, it possesses floral aromas of Anjou pear, Crenshaw melon, gooseberry, cut grass and wet stone. The flavors are vivid and precise, with notes of grape and pear skins and calcareous minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire William liqueur and melon rind followed by a crisp, persistently minerally finish. Pairs beautifully with shellfish. 18.5+/20 points.

2020 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages ($14.49 - Safeway) - This makes a nice luncheon red. It offers a purplish ruby color and engaging aromas of strawberry,  cherry, red currant. crushed roses, mulberry and light spices. Them flavors are medium bodied and direct with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa powder, medium roast coffee beans and earth. The chewy textured yet quaffable back picks up pressed berries, creme de cassis and soft charcoal on the way to a soft tannin and moderate acid finish. 18/20 points.

2019 Domaine Cuillotte Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Cuvée de Noble Souche ($28 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - From a grower in Marsannay, this is a Burgundian gem. It displays a brick red color and attractive aromas of fraises de bois, cerise and cassis, with scents of red roses, cherry blossoms and sweet incense. The flavors are deliciously supple, yet substantial. with red fruits that are imbued with licorice, cocoa, orange pekoe tea and soft earth. The appeal continues on the back with gently pressed fruits, toasted nuts, mocha, kirsch and creme de cassis, followed by a silky moderate tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Louis Jadot Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru, La Dominode ($58.99 in 2019) - From an exceptional but not as great as 2015 or 2019, this offers a medium brick red color and a rich bouquet of wild strawberries, cherries, red currants, crushed roses, tobacco, dried orange peel and sultry incense. The flavors are ample yet deep and focused, with considerable Pinot character, marked by licorice, cocoa, black tea and earth. On the back, the wine rounds out with fraise and cerise liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a lot, rich finish. marled by smooth tannins. 19/20 points.

2015 Domaine Denis Mortet Gevry-Chambertin, "Mes Cinq Terroirs" ($85.99 in 2017) - This is a beautifully maturing Burgundy. It exhibits a brick red color and a rich bouquet of semi-dried fruits - raspberries, cherries, currants - with scents of dried rose petals, mulberry, tobacco, sandalwood and stick incense. The flavors are maturing into a round, deep texture - "velours" - with notes of licorice root, dark cocoa, roasted coffee and earth. The back reveals kirsch and cassis liqueurs, roasted nuts, toffee, all leading into a lengthy finish, marked by smoothing tannins. 19+/20 points.

2021 Rosé Wines Update

So far, we have tasted 55 Rosé wines from the 2021 vintage, mostly from Washington State, with a few from Oregon and just two imported ones.

Among these wines, most are amiable quaffing Rosés which will be enjoyable for summer drinking. For the most part, they do not seem to be quite as complicated as their 2020 counterparts, with a few exceptions. The three most outstanding Washington 2021 Rosés were the Saviah Sangiovese-Barbera,, L'Ecole No 41 Grenache and Canvasback Syrah. 

There will be at least ten new Rosés in the July issue of the Review of Washington Wines, including some from Woodinville wineries. Again, mostly enjoyable quaffing ones. One extraordinary and different Rosé is the 2021 Kinhaven Estate which was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Here are the first two 2021 imported Rosés we've tasted this year.

2021 Ameztoi Getarriako Txakolina Rubentis ($23 - The Thief) - This Rosé from the Basque region of Spain displays a pink color, a frothy rime and intriguing aromas of strawberry, cherry, pink peach, pink grapefruit, cherry blossoms, pink lavender, cut herbs and pink incense. The flavors, as well, are distinctive, with bright pink fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and minerals. The back picks up strawberry and cherry liqueurs, grapefruit peel and spritz on the light alcohol (11%) crisp, dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Caves d'Esclans "Whispering Angel" Côtes de Provence Rosé ($24 - The Thief) - This vintage shows a light copper-tinged pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, pink peach, Mandarin orange, pink roses, pink lavender and pink incense. The flavors are light and fresh in a quaffable style, with pink fruits thatnare accented by grape skins, cherry stones and Esclans Valley minerals. The vivacity continues on the back with fraise and cerise liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a deftly extracted finish. 18.5/20 points.

No Review Blog Next Week

On June 8, we will be leaving for Seattle, returning Sunday, June 12, so there will be no blog next week. The next blog will be on June 17 and will report on our visit to Woodinville.