Buy 'Em Before They're Gone

For the summer months, many wineries make limited production wines that often get sold out shortly after they are released. These may include roses, but can include white and red wines as well. Here are some that I ran across during Spring Release Weekend in Walla Walla.

2010 Isenhower Cellars "Pink Paintbrush" Cabernet Franc Rose, Yakima Valley ($15 - winery only)

Light copper colored, this rose emits an intrriguing nose of semi-dried raspberries and cherries. The dried berry character (from extended skin contact) continues on the palate, followed by notes of mandarin orange and cranberry juices on a dry finish. 17.5/20 points.

2010 Amavi Cellars Semillon, Walla Walla Valley ($20)

Brilliant gold colored, this offers a fresh pear and melon nose with scents of jasmine and butternut. The flavors possess a beeswax-like texture that counterpoints the grapefruit and melon fruit acids, to make for a refreshing wine that would go well with shellfish. 18/20 points.

2010 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Franc Rose, Walla Walla Valley ($20)

Deep salmon colored, this displays enticing raspberry and watermelon aromas, with intriguing scents of rhubarb and orange peel. The flavors are well extracted (from skin contact) and imbued with tones of lightly squeezed berry juices, followed by a crisp, nearly dry finish. 18/20 points.

2010 Fjellene Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley ($20)

This Sauvignon is made in a crisp, refreshing style. Light gold colored, it offers a striking nose of pear, melon, anise and lilac. The flavors are fresh and vibrant, enlivened by grapefruit and casaba melon fruits, and accented by stony minerals on a crisp finish that is counterpointed by a hint of fig. 18/20 points.

2010 Fjellene Cellars Rose, Columbia Valley ($20)

Composed of 100% Syrah, this brilliant pink colored wine exhibits aromas of wild strawberries, cranberries, rose petals and oriental spices. The bright flavors are deep and focused, with tones of watermelon juice and spiced orange peel, followed by a dusting of nutmeg and coriander of a lingering finish that shows vivid fruit acids. 18+/20 points.

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley ($14)

This new vintage sports the winery's new label and drops the "Walla Voila" designation. It offers a fragrant pear, melon, lilac and honeysuckle nose and fresh, lively peach and grapefruit flavors that show bracing fruit acids to counterpoint the medium-dry (1.5% residual sugar) finish. 17.5+/20 points.

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache Rose, Horse Heaven Hills, Alder Ridge Vineyard ($19 - winery only)

Very crisp and dry (0.5% residual sugar, no malolactic), this rose shows a pale rose color and aromas of cranberry and tangerine, with scents of wildflowers. The bright flavors are nicely fruited and hold on from the entry through the lightly spiced finish. 18/20 points.

2010 Buty "BEAST" Rose of the Stones, Rockgarden Estate, Walla Walla Valley ($19 - winery only)

Basically from young vines from this vineyard, and composed of Syrah and Grenache, this exhibits a pale copper color and spicy aromatics of raspberry and mandarin orange, along with vivid, dryish fruit flavors that are mouth-filling and satisfying, followed by a lively, dryish finish. 18/20 points.

Here are a couple of flavorful reds that would make fine barbecue wines.

2008 Trio Vintners Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley ($26)

This Chinon-like Cab Franc displays a deep ruby color and smoky aromas of raspberries, cherries, tobacco and sage. The flavors are generous and savory, underlain with notes of licorice, chocolate, earth and minerals, followed by a chewy moderate tannin finish. 18+/20 points.

2006 Tranche Cellars Barbera, Columbia Valley ($20)

Deep ruby colored, this wine offers rich, smoky aromas of wild berries and cherries, with scents of rosebuds and mulberry. The dark fruit flavors are deep and tangy, like macerated tart cherries, accompanied by licorice, scorched earth and bitter chocolate, followed by persistent fruit acids on a lingering sweet-dry finish. Would make a fine counterpoint to grilled steak. 18/20 points.