Spring Releaae Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley

Last weekend, May 1 through 3, was a busy one. The turnouts at the tasting rooms were large, and things were hopping everywhere. We visited Leonetti's annual event at the winery, along with Doubleback, Seven Hills, Maison Bleue (where Lynn helped out Saturday afternoon), Kerloo, Tertulia (which opened a boules terrain with the Walla Walla Petanque Club) and Gino Cuneo Cellars. On Saturday evening, Roger and Julia Russell hosted a fabulous paella party for Manison Cellars club members and friends. Watch for reviews in the June and July issues of the Review of Washington Wines.

 

Tastings of Walla Walla Winery Rosés and Other New Releases

A week ago, April 28th, Mike Eberle (Maison Bleue) hosted a tasting of twenty five Rosés collected from various wineries in the Valley. Overall, the top wines were Seven Hills (reviewed April, $17), L'Ecole No 41 (see below) and CAVU (see below). These were my top picks:

2014 Maison Bleue "Lissette" Rosé of Grenache ($25) - This is a fine rendition of Provence-style Rosé. It showed a pale copper color and lovely aromas of raspberry, pink peach, pomegranate and tangerine, with fresh lively flavors. A full review will be in the June issue. 18.5-19/20 points.

2014 Waters Patina Vineyard Rosé, Walla Walla Valley ($20) - Reviewed April - 18.5/20 points.

2014 College Cellars Mourvèdre Rose, Walla Walla Valley, Nostra Terrra Vineyard ($15) This came on strikingly Bandol-like (from Provence and also made from Mourvèdre) - floral and nicely balanced. A full review to be in the June issue. 18.5/20 points.

2014 Julia's Dazzle Pinot Gris Rosé, Horse Heaven Hills, The Benches Vineyard ($17) - This differs from others in that it was made from white grapes given longer hang time which gave it a copper-hued color. Reviewed April - 18+ points.

That tasting was by no means a complete collection of Rosés. Some had not yet been released. Here are my reviews of ones tasted since the May issue of the Review of Washington Wines.

2014 Tranche Cellars Pink Pape, Columbia Valley ($18) - Pink is the keynote with this wine: light pink colored, with attractive aromas of strawberry, Rainer cherry, watermelon and pink grapefruit, with scents of cherry blossoms and jasmine and bright fruit acids. 18/20 points.

2014 Gino Cuneo Cellars "Rosato" Dry Rosé, Columbia Valley ($18) - This Rosé of Sangiovese offers a brilliant crimson-pink color and attractiver aromas of wild strawberries, Rainer cherries and pomegranates. The bright fruit flavors resonate on the palet, picking up grape skin and pomegranate seed extracts on the way to a dry finish. 18+/20 points.

2014 Tertulia Cellars Tempranillo Rosé, Walla Walla Valley, Riviere Galets Vineyard ($16) - Medium copper colored, this possesses intriguing aromas of peach, blood orange, musk melon, and papaya, with scents of orange blossoms and spiced incense. The flavors are distinctive, with ripe, mouth-encompassing orange fruit flavors that are accompanied by notes of peach stone, melon rind and orange peel. 18+/20 points.

2014 DaMa Cellars Rosé of Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley ($25) - Sourced from the XL Vineyard, this is an unusual Rosé in that it shows the palest copper color. But it has lovely aromatics - pink peach, Rainier cherry, orange peel, pink lilac and white incense - and light, refreshing, minerally flavors that dance on the palate, picking up notes of cerise and pêche liqueurs and orange peel on the way to a crisp, faintly honeyed finish. 18.5/20 points.

2014 Kerloo Cellars Grenache Rosé, Yakima Valley, Angiolina Farm Vineyard ($24) - This wine shows a pale peach color and enticing aromas of pear, pink peach, Rainer cherry, peach and cherry blossoms, jasmine and spiced white incense. The flavors, as well, are attractive, with notes of peach stone, pear skin and alluvial minerals. The back picks up cerise and pêche liqueurs, followed by a crisp, bright fruit acid finish. 18.5/20 points.