More 2021 Rosés

2021 Lavignone Rosato, Piemonte ($19 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This Italian Rosé presents a brilliant copper color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, tangerine, pink roses and orange lavender. The flavors are light and fresh yet well delineated, with notes of grape skins, cherry stones and pink minerals. The back picks up strawberry and cherry liqueurs, recurring tangerine peel and a bit of frizzante, followed by an agreeable, balanced dry finish. 18+/20 points.

2021 Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Rosé, "Griottes" ($20 - The Thief) - Made from the Gamay grape, this shows a brilliant pink-tinged copper color and engaging aromas of wild strawberry, pomegranate, red currant, tangerine, pink roses, pink lilac and orange incense. The flavors are deftly extracted, with notes of grape skins, pomegranate seeds and minerals. The appeal continues on the back with fraise and cassis liqueurs and a twist of orange peel on the nicely balanced fruit acid finish. A real charmer. 18.5/20 points.

2021 Le Galantin Bandol Rosé ($28.90 - Foodscape, Walla Walla) - Composed of 60% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache and 15% Cinsault, this displays a brilliant copper-pink color and enticing aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, red currant, pink roses, pink lavender and pink incense. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with delicious pink fruits that are imbued with grape skins, pomegranate seeds and hillside minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with fraise and cassis liqueurs and a twist of tangerine peel on the dry, nicely fruited finish. Compare to the La Bastide Blanche Bandol reviewed last week (see below). 19/20 points.

Other French Wines

2020 Domaine Delaporte Sancerre ($30 - The Thief) - From Chavignol, this is a richer than usual Sauvignon Blanc. It displays a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of Anjou pear, yellow peach, gooseberry, pear blossoms, grapefruit, acacia flowers, honeysuckle and whiffs of white smoke (fumé). The flavors are full and round yet vibrant, with notes of grape skin, peach stone and calcareous minerals. The wine fills out on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and a hint of marzipan on the finely fruited finish, balanced by brisk acidity. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Daniel Bouland Chiroubles, "Chatenay" (($44.90 - Foodscape) - This Cru Beaujolais exhibits a deep purplish-ruby color and a seductive nose of wild fruits - fraises de bois, myrtles, cassis noirs - with scents of wild roses, sweet tobacco, lavender and violet licorics. The flavors, as well, are alluring, yet powerful, with layers of red and black fruits that are infused with licorice, chocolate, French roast and granitic minerals. The vigor continues on the back with pressed berries, roasted nuts, fraise and creme de cassis liqueurs and blueberry preserves, by a lavish yet puissant finish, marked by precise fruit acids. 19/20 points.

Greek Wines

Last week, Lynn hosted a lunch for her Book Club. The book to be discussed was "Café Nana - A Taverna" a novel about three generations of Greek-Egyptian women running a restaurant near the Pyramids, by a Walla Walla author, Mary Griese, who is of Greek-Egyptian ancestry. So the lunch was Greek themed, with Greek chicken salad and Greek wines. Here are the wines served.

2021 Ayramakis Dafini, Psarades Vineyard, Crete ($22 - The Thief) - The white Dafani grape was saved from extinction by the Lyrakis family at their vineyard. This vintage shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear, peach, casaba melon, grapefruit, pear blossoms, spring flowers and white incense. The flavors are fresh and lively, with notes of grape and pear skins and minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with pear and peach liqueurs, melon rind and grapefruit peel, followed by a nicely fruited finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Gaia "Monograph" Assyrtiko White Wine, Peleponese ($19 - The Thief) - Light lemon-gold colored, this possesses intriguing aromas of pear, lemon, gooseberry, pear blossoms, jasmine and wet stone. The flavors are brisk, accented by grape and pear skins and saline minerals. The back picks up pear liqueur and lemon zest, followed by a crisp yet well fruited finish. 18+/20 points.

2019 Gaia "Monograph" Agiorgitko Red Wine, Peleponese ($15 - The Thief) - This red offers a ruby color and rich aromas of raspberry, plum, a bit of fig, sun dried rose petals, Greek tobacco, lavender, olive and brush. The flavors are medium bodied, with ample red fruits that are intermixed with cocoa, roasted coffee beans and earth. The back picks up macerated fruits, roasted nuts, plum preserves and soft charcoal, followed by a chewy moderate tannin and acid finish. 18/20 points.

Sauvignon Blanc Wine of the Week

2021 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($14.99 - Safeway, Regular $19.99) - This is impressive for the price. It shows a greenish-gold color and floral aromas of green pear, gooseberry, lime, a bit of kiwi, pear blossoms, jasmine, wintergreen and wet stone. The flavors are brisk, laser-like, with white and green fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and saline minerals. On the back, the wine takes a dynamic turn with pear liqueur and lime zest, followed by a crisp, zingy, persistently minerally finish. 18.5/20 points.

Sparkling Rosé of the Week

N.V. Chandon Brut Rosé, California ($24.99 - Safeway, Regular $30) - Brilliant pink-tinged copper colored with streaming bubbles, this emits enticing aromas of strawberries, pomegranates, red currants, pink cherries, tangerine, cherry and orange blossoms and orange incense. The flavors are deliciously mouth encompassing, with red and orange fruits that are intermixed with grape skins, cherry stones, pomegranate seeds and minerals. The appeal continues on the back with fraise and cassis liqueurs and recurring orange peel on the CO2 enlivened Brut finish. Delvers a lot of flavor for the price. 19/20 points.

California Zins

We love Zinfandel. Here are three that we have particularly liked.

2019 Cline "Ancient Vines" Zinfandel, Contra Costa County ($15.99 - Safeway, Regular $19.99) - Deep ruby-crimson colored this emits rich, smoky aromas of raspberries, cherries, plums, black roses, mulberry, pipe tobacco, herb potpourri and spiced incense. The flavors are amole, yet substantial, with considerable old vine character (100+ year-old) marked by licorice, cola, roasted coffee beans and scorched earth. The back picks up roasted berries and nuts, kirsch, plum preserve and charcoal, followed by a warm (14.5% alcohol), spiced ripe moderate tannin finish.  Delvers a lot for the price. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Seghisio Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($21.99 - Safeway, Regular $30) - This shows a deep ruby color and rich aromas of raspberry, bayberry, plum, black roses, sweet tobacco, cedar and spiced incense. The flavors are mouth filling, with copious red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and earth. On the back, the wine fills out with macerated berries, roasted nuts, raspberry liqueur and charcoal, followed by a warm, spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Frog's Leap Zinfandel, Napa Valley ($30.99 - Safeway, Regular $36.99) - Blended with 14% Petite Syrah and 4% Carignan, this Zin shows a deep ruby color and an intense nose of blackberry, brambly currant, Damson plum, pope tobacco, garrigue, olive and spiced incense. The flavors are simultaneously robust and refined, with dark fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, espresso and black earth. The intensity continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts, creme de cassis, smoked meats, plum preserves and charcoal, followed by a ware, juicy, savory ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.