Looking Ahead to August

I'm now working on the August issue of the Review of Washington Wines. In the July issue, "Coming up in the August Issue" says "Walla Walla Fall Releases Preview." Actually, August is too early for reviewing Fall releases. Most of the new wines will be Summer releases, mostly onesies and twosies. These will include recent releases from Brook & Bull, Balboa, Northstar, Deux Soldats and others. A special feature will be "Super Values from L'Ecole No 41. On July 4, we will go to the Yakima Valley to visit Owen-Roe in Wapato and VanArm Cellars in Zillah. Other reports will include current vintages from Kerloo Cellars and Nefarious Cellars on Lake Chelan. 

Austrian Rosés

On Friday of last week, I was in Foodscape to pick up our order, and owner Hannah MacDonald showed me three new Austrian Rosés that had just come in. So I bought a bottle of each. We found all three to be attractively styled, suitable as either as food wines or for summer sipping.

2022 Gerhard Markowitsch Carnuntum Rosé ($21.90 - Foodscape) - This comes from the Eastern edge of Austria and is composed of 50% Zweigelt (a crossing of St. Laurent and Blaufranckisch), 30% Blaufrancisch and 10% each of Pinot Noir and Merlot. It shows a light copper-pink color and floral aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, Mandarin orange, pink roses, pink lavender and orange incense. The flavors are fresh and nicely wrought, with pink fruits that are imbued by grape skins, cherry stones and minerals. The back picks up kirsch and orange peel, followed by a pleasing pink juice finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2022 Weingut Soeliner Wagram Rosé ($22.90 - Foodscape) - From Kamptal, this is composed of 80% Zwiegelt, and 10% each of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. It displays a copper-tinged  pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry, tangerine, cherry blossoms and orange incense. The flavors are light but well delineated, with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and minerals. On the back, the wine enlivens with berry and cherry liqueurs and orange peel, followed by a brisk, nicely juiced light alcohol (11.5%) finish. 18.5/20 points.

2022 Birgit Weiderstein Gottlesbrunn Rosé ($23.90 - Foodscape) - From Niederösterreich, this is comprised of 50% Zweigelt, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Blaufranckisch. It offers a bright copper-pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pink cherry, tangerine, wild roses, orange blossoms, lavender and pink incense. The flavors are deliciously brisk and fresh, with pink and orange fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and minerals in a balanced style. The back picks up kirsch and orange peel on the way to a nicely juiced finish. 18.5/20 points.