With the July issue of the Review of Washington Wines now on line, we are now working on the August issue which will be on July 25. We have had new wines from Orr and Fortuity Cellars shipped to us and we will be visiting Avennia, Fidelitas and Frichette on July 7. From the Walla Walla Valley, we will have reviews of wines from Devona, Woodward Canyon and Forgeron and exceptional values from L'Ecole No 41. 

In the meantime, here are some other new wines tasted recently.

New Rosés

2021 Txomin Etxaniz Getaria Rosé Wine ($21 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This Spanish Basque Rosé presents a brilliant copper-tinged pink color and enticing aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, pomegranate and orange, with scents of cherry and orange blossoms, pink lavender and orange incense. The flavors are bright and fresh with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins an stony minerals. The back picks up pink liqueurs, orange peel and bait of spritz, followed by a light alcohol (11%) dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Campuget "Tradition" Rosé, Pays du Gard ($15) - This 30% Grenache, 70% Syrah combination from the Southwest Rhone offers a light pink color and attractive aromas pf strawberry, red currant, tangerine, pink roses and pink lavender. The flavors are bright and fresh, with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins, pomegranate seeds and minerals. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a brisk dry finish. A bargain when purchased for $10.99. 18/20 points.

2021 Château de Campuget "1753" Costierès de Nimes Rosé ($20 - The Thief) - This is 80% Syrah, 20% Vermentino. It shows a pink tinged light copper color and intriguing aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, orange peel, orange tree blossoms and lavender. The flavors are bright and vivid, with pink and orange fruits that are accented by grape skins and Mediterranean earth. The back picks up fraise liqueur, pomegranate seeds and recurring orange peel, followed by a lively, nicely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Bernard Bertrand "Coté de Roses" Languedoc Rose ($16.49 - Safeway) - This Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre combination offers a brilliant light pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pink peach, pink grapefruit, pink roses, pink lavender and pink incense. The flavors are bright and pleasingly quaffable, with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins, peach stones and minerals. The back picks up fraise and pêche liqueurs, followed by a juicy, nicely fruited finish. 18+/20 points. 

2021 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rosé ($34.99 - wine.com) - Cassis is located east of Marseille. Composed of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, this exhibits a brilliant copper-pink color and seductive aromas of fraises de bois, currant, pomegranate, orange peel, pink roses, pink lavender and orange incense. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with pink fruits dancing on the palate along with notes of grape skins and coastal hillside minerals. On the back, the wine invigorates with pressed fruits, fraise and cassis liqueurs, pomegranate seeds and recurring orange peel, followed by an ultra precise fruit acid finish. The best French Rosé tasted so far. 19+/20 points.

N.V. Henri Champliau Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé ($27 - The Thief) - Produced from 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay abd 10% Gamay, this sparkling wine shows a brilliant salmon-tinged pink color, streaming bubbles and floral aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, pink flowers and whiffs of pink incense. The flavors are vivid and well poised, with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and minerals. The back picks up touches of crème fraiche and brioche, counterpointed by the CO2 and balanced acidity on the Brut finish. "Wow, nice finish," says Lynn. 18.5+/20 points.

Other French Wines

2020 Domaine des Pallières Sablet Blanc, "Montmartel" ($26.99 - wine.com) - This South Rhone white is composed of 50% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 15% Clairette and 10% Marsanne. It shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear, white peach, pineapple, grapefruit, pear tree blossoms, meadow flowers and whiffs of green incense. The flavors, as well, are distinctive, with white and yellow fruits that are imbued with grape and pear skins, herbal tea and alluvial minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, toasted almonds and a touch of crème fraiche on the juicy finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Domaine Courbis Saint Joseph Blanc ($43.99 - wine.com) - This 98% Marsanne (with 2% Roussanne) from the North Rhone displays a brilliant gold color and aromas of Bosc pear, nectarine, papaya, cantaloupe, orange, pear tree blossoms, meadow flowers, cut hay and yellow incense. The flavors, as well, are striking, with yellow fruits that are intermixed with grape and pear skins, herbal tea and flinty minerals. The textured back picks up poire and Cointreau liqueurs, followed by a viscous finish, balanced by fruit acids. 19/20 points.

2019 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Châteauneuf du Pape, "La Crau" ($94.99 - Esquin) - From the greatest vintage since 2015, this boasts a deep ruby color and a seductive nose of wild fruits - strawberries, blueberries, brambly currants - with scents of crushed roses, sweet tobacco, lavender, olive tapenade, sandalwood, orange peel, violets and oriental incense. The favors are simultaneously mouth filling and focused, with red and blue fruits that are interwoven with red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and mas earth and minerals. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed berries, roasted nuts, fraise and crème de cassis liqueurs, mocha and powder charcoal, all followed by a sensuous spice dusted ripe tannin finish. Delicious now, will have a great future. 19.5/20 points.

2020 Domaine du Chalet Pouilly Saint Veran ($24.99 - wine.com) - Saint Veran is situated at the juncture of Beaujolais and the Maconnais. This 100% Chardonnay displays a brilliant lemon-gold color and attractive aromas of pear, peach, Crenshaw melon, lemon custard, pear tree blossoms, acacia flowers, lemongrass and white incense. The flavors are bright, true to variety, with yellow fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and peach stones. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs and lemon zest on a nicely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay, "Cuvée Flavie" ($35.99 - wine.com) - From a respected grower in Chassage-Montrachet, this features a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple. white peach, grapefruit, apple blossoms, acacia flowers, meadow flowers and white incense. The flavors are exquisitely balanced, with white and yellow fruits that are marked by grape and pear skins and granitic minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, toasted hazelnuts and grapefruit peel on the way to a finely fruited finish. 18.5+/20 points.