2025 Seven Hills Rosé

Happy Saturday!  It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer and the unofficial start to rosé season!  Tonight I happened to open a bottle of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery, and my happenstance someone called and convinced me to order a case of this for the upcoming summer, so let's taste the 2025 Seven Hills Rosé, a wine composed primarily of Cabernet Franc, so let's see what's going on!

This wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, just what you'd like to see from a summer rosé.  The nose presents aromas of bright citrus, pomegranate, pineapple and hints of white floral.  The first sip is a mouthful of summer, with notes of green grass, lemon chiffon, pink grapefruit and some bright citrus acidity that will have you drifting to the patio to finish the bottle.  The tannins are crisp yet unobtrusive, providing for an elevated, crisp dry finish that leaves you satiated on a summer evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the best rosé wines I've sampled in several years.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer dished, from caprese salad to fish tacos, salmon ceviche to black and bleu salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, sesame crusted tuna steak with citrus wasabi dipping sauce, wild rice blend and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2025 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc

Happy Sunday!  This is indeed a rare occasion as tonight I am opening a bottle of white wine to enjoy with my dinner.  I recently received this wine in a wine club shipment, and I am excited to try it with a Sunday dinner that really calls for a white wine.  This wine is a 100% Grenache Blanc from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see what this new wine has to offer.

The wine is a crystal clear white in the glass with hints of white grapefruit color.  The nose presents aromas of bright citrus, pineapple and a hint of pear, surely as the winemaker suggests, sunshine in a glass!  The first sip is a rush of tropical fruit intermingled with green apple, course mineral notes and ample vibrant citrus that transitions to some notes of white floral midpalate.  This finish is crisp and dry with plenty of acidity along the way, a perfect sip for a warm and humid evening on the patio as I am experiencing tonight!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be altering my perception of white wine, and I could see myself enjoying this throughout the summer!  This wine would pair well with such a broad range of dishes, from spicy Thai or Indian, to seared sea scallops or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest Sunday dinner of bourbon crusted chicken thighs, steamed asparagus and corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2024 Weekend À Aix Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

Well, I spend the afternoon blowing leaves, which means it is effectively and officially fall, so why not have a last bit of summer with a bottle of rosé?  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2024 Weekend À Aix Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out this summer.  This wine is a blend of Syrah (55%), Grenache (40%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), which portends and interesting wine, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a very pale peach color in the glass, almost Chardonnay like, but we'll overlook that.  The nose is just a breath of summer, with aromas of green grass, citrus, peach and a hint of strawberry.  Take a sip and you're greeted with an unexpected rush of sweet fruit, peach, honeydew and strawberry, balanced with tart notes of pineapple and citrus, and a bit of buttery smoothness heading into a crisp dry finish that leaves you refreshed.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's nothing to knock your socks off, but it's certainly a pleasant summer wine for just $13.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, lighter fish and seafood, or just sipping in the cool of the evening.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a crab fest, a giant pile of snow crab legs with drawn butter.  Cheers!

2024 Belles d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I have to confess that I've been completely ignoring rosé season, as I think I may have only enjoyed one bottle this entire summer.  Well, now it's time to make up for my oversight, so tonight I've opened a bottle of 2024 Belles d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé that I bought last month from Wines Till Sold Out.  I have previously reviewed the 2021 vintage and thought it was all right, but still a good value.  This vintage is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a very pale peach color in the glass, signaling something crisp and refreshing is on the way for these last few days of summer.  The nose is a refreshing array of summer citrus and tropical fruit, grapefruit, apple and mango with hints of honey and some minerality.  The first sip is delightfully crisp and refreshing, with a cascade of citrus, honeydew, and mango, with hints of red berry and some mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is dry and crisp, a perfect ending for a wine destined for patio sipping.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it impressed me much more than the 2021 vintage.  This wine would be perfect for summer patio sipping (we have 4 more days of summer!) and would also pair well with barbecue, burgers and brats or fajita tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon, steamed rice and asparagus.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills Columbia Valley Rosé

Happy Saturday!  We've been suffering through a real heatwave here, so what to do except enjoy some of the official wine of summer, rosé!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that was delivered a couple months back from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries, Seven Hills.  The 2022 Seven Hills Columbia Valley Rosé is made from a blend of red varietals, but primarily Cabernet Franc.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up for the summer!

The wine is a lovely salmon pink color in the glass, perhaps hinting at an ideal pairing.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, peach and honeydew, readying your taste buds for a summer treat.  The first sip is just a rush of fresh fruit, strawberry, melon and a hint of granny smith apple that transition easily to some honeysuckle and a mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp and dry, with a nice bit of acidity that will have this wine as a sure favorite with family and friends on the patio.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasing rosé that I can see myself enjoying all summer long.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer salads, feta and roasted beets or sweet pickled cucumber, or some lighter seafood dishes, like cedar planked salmon or grilled octopus.  Tonight, I am enjoying this with a local summer favorite, panko crusted walleye with some wild rice and steamed asparagus.  Cheers! 

2023 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc

Happy Easter!  It's been a wonderful day of celebration of the risen Christ and the culmination of the holiest week in Christendom, and I admit I've been cooking most of the day, starting with breakfast frittatas for the worship team at church, then when I got home I started preparing dinner, which cooked all afternoon (more on that in a moment).  Today is also the last Sunday of the month, which makes it Dinner in the Diner Sunday, and I picked a surprising recipe from the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which used to run behind my uncle's house when I was growing up.  As for the wine, I picked a nice white wine for this meal, one that I received last week in my wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2023 Grenache Blanc.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a crazy pale gold color in the glass, making this a truly white wine!  A swirl of the glass reveals captivating aromas of ripe pear, honeysuckle and a hint of citrus.  The first sip has your mind racing to Asia, with a rush of sweet fruit, pear, white peach and hibiscus dancing around your palate, before easing into some modest minerality midpalate.  The finish is dry, crisp and refreshing, an ideal wine for sipping on the summer patio.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as even though I'm not a big white wine enthusiast, I'll make an exception for this one.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer salads, Asian dishes, or lighter fish dishes like a roasted branzino.  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a "Curry of Lamb, Indian Style" recipe from the Missouri Pacific Railroad dining car, though I took some liberty in braising lamb shanks with the curry broth, before adding some additional veggies and the coconut milk and rue to thicken this delicious sauces, served over steamed basmati rice and garnished with fresh pea tendrils.  Cheers!

2021 BigLITTLE Wines Open Road Rosé

Happy Sunday!  It's been bitter cold here, like so much of the country right now, so I've been huddling indoors, doing laundry and cooking and trying to stay warm!  Given that summer and rosé season seem so far away, I've decided to open a bottle of a Michigan rosé that some friends sent me for Christmas.  The 2021 BigLITTLE Wines Open Road Rosé is a blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling and Marechal Foch from the Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan.  So, let's see if this wine can bring back the summer!

The wine is a deep peach and rose color in the glass, just as you'd expect for summer sipping on the patio.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, melon and hints of apple, certainly bringing back some warm weather vibes.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of crisp and tart fruit, tart cherry, apple, and melon that will have you ready for a summer dip in the lake.  The finish is short, but crisp and dry, inviting you to sip this with a meal or just some conversation with friends.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely departure from many of the sweeter wines I've tasted from Michigan.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, tacos, pizza or smoked barbecue.  Tonight, I've taken a different path and am enjoying this wine with some coconut crusted cod, steamed rice and fresh asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Mas de la Baronne Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

Happy Sunday!  Today I did some actual work as well as some chores around the house, went for a bike ride and was run off the path by an idiot pedestrian that didn't want to move, so now that I've stopped the bleeding on my shin I am really ready for a glass of wine!  And since it's still 82 degrees, it must still be rosé season despite the face that it's October!  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2021 Mas de la Baronne Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out over the summer.  This wine is  blend of Grenache and Syrah, so, let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, very light as seems to be the recent popular trend in rosé.  After a gentle swirl, the wine offers aromas of peach, lemongrass and strawberry.  The first sip is a surprising rush of ripe berry, raspberry, strawberry and currant, that transition to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp and very dry with some mild acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic rosé from Provence that would be an ideal summer sipper, especially at a value price of just $10.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fish, from pan fried lake perch to a nice salmon filet, summer salads or a cold pasta salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some roasted chicken breasts that I coated in bread crumbs mixed with a bit of Nashville hot spice powder I recently bought, along with some pasta and sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2022 Hazlitt Dry Rosé

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday I had one of the busiest days I can remember, so today I've decided to take it easy, cooking some slow roasted comfort food for dinner, doing a bit of yard work and laundry, and now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of rosé that I picked up on my recent vacation and wine tasting side trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York.  The 2022 Hazlitt Dry Rosé is made from 100% Cabernet Franc from the Hazlitt 1852 Home Farm Vineyard in the Seneca Lake region of the Finger Lakes.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, quite in character for the current trends in rosé.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, watermelon and green grass with a hint of lemon zest.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a fresh, clean depth of peach, strawberry and citrus that wash over your palate, before transitioning to some notes of green grass and a bit of minerality midpalate.  The finish is crisp and dry, ideal for summer sipping on the patio (which is rapidly coming to a close!).

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as this wine stacks up to some of the finest rosés from California and Washington to the South of France.  I have to admit I was skeptical of the Finger Lakes when I went to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised.  This wine would pair well with fresh summer caprese salad, a variety of cheeses, seared salmon or barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a dinner inspired by the other end of my vacation, a Vermont maple syrup glazed ham, mashed potatoes and steamed peas. Cheers!

2021 Nathaniel J. Moore Zweigelt Rosé

Happy Sunday!  It was a more subdued day today as I did some work and finished my laundry before going for a bike ride just before the rain began.  Now I've opened a nice bottle of wine from my recent vacation which included a stop in the Finger Lakes wine region in New York State.  One of the wineries I visited was the Inspire Moore Winery, where I picked up a bottle of this wine.  The 2021 Zweigelt Rosé is bottled under the Nathaniel J. Moore label, which is the namesake of the current winemaker and the second generation of this family owned winery. Nathaniel succeeded his father who unfortunately passed away in 2019 just as Nathaniel graduated from a local Enology & Viticulture program.  

As head winemaker, Nathaniel has continued his father's passion for Austrian varietals, including this wine.  Zweigelt is a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, and has become one of the most planted red varietals in Austria.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!  The wins is a bright pink color in the glass, somewhat deeper in color than the typical rosés of the past few years.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of green grass, tart cherry and a bit of minerality.  The first sip is a subdued blend of strawberry, candied cherry and some earthy peat that eases into some notes of cranberry toward the finish.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully crisp dry finish ideal for the closing days of summer.

Beyond the wines, I must admit, I was impressed with the cozy tasting room at the winery in Naples, as I had the chance to enjoy a tasting on the deck overlooking the vineyard, an idyllic place to sip wine!  And when you finish, there is a lovely restaurant next door that has some fantastic lunch fare.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very interesting varietal with a great flavor profile less likely to overwhelm the food you pair it with.  This wine would be wonderful with light summer fare, a variety of seafood and salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared, sesame crusted tuna steak, steamed jasmine rice and sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2022 Perle du Sud Rosé

Well, it's Thursday evening and the work week is coming to a close.  It's also been a week of crazy weather, yesterday we had 5.7" of rain in a 12-hour period and now it's unbelievably hot and humid with highs expected in the mid-90s tomorrow!  So, it must be time for rosé!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2022 Perle du Sud Rosé.  This wine is a wonderful blend of Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%) from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the south of France.  So let's see if this wine can provide a cool break in the hot weather!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of pear, strawberry and melon with undertones of tarragon.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of tart cherry, strawberry and honeydew, that transitions to some notes of green grass and mineral notes midpalate.  The acidity is well balanced for a wonderfully crisp dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderfully refreshing summer rosé with the French craft that will have you feeling Mediterranean breezes as you sip.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, particularly caprese salad, light fish dishes or fresh poke bowls.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a cedar planked coho salmon filet topped with lemon and dill, farro and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2021 Anvil Chardonnay

I am very happy to have a long holiday weekend as I feel like I've been working too much and haven't had a vacation yet this year!  So at least I can enjoy some nice wine and food this weekend, and tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2021 Anvil Chardonnay is an old-vine Chardonnay sourced from the French Creek Vineyard's "Old Wente Block" which was originally planted in 1981 in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a very pale golden color in the glass, a bit lighter than I would have expected.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of pear, green apple, lemongrass and hints of white floral.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of persimmon, pineapple and citrus, with buttery undertones, that ease into notes of pear and gradient minerals midpalate.  The finish is crisp and inviting, providing for a subtle dryness that will leave you reaching for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very different sort of Chardonnay, that portrays the crispness of a lighter white varietal, with the depth of flavor that can only come from old vine Chardonnay.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with summer seafood dishes, from light white fish, to shrimp, to chilled oysters.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some seared sea scallops along with linguine tossed with garlic scapes and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Healy Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I finished planting all the annual flowers along the garage today, so my planting season is officially over.  To celebrate, I've opened a bottle of summer rosé since it's been in the upper 80s every day for the better part of a week.  Tonight, it's the 2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Healy Rosé which was just delivered in a club shipment yesterday (or maybe it was Friday, the days are running together lately!).  This wine is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Schafer, Flying B and Los Oidos vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely pink salmon color in the glass, and give it a swirl and you're greeted with aromas of tropical sunshine, with mango, citrus and pineapple intermingled with white floral notes and just a hint of minerality.  Take a sip and you're palate is inundated with sweet tropical fruit, bright citrus and a crisp freshness that awakens your senses.  The tannins are mellow, providing for a crisp dry finish that exhibits a roundness that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is the best effort yet of the Healy Rosé.  This wine practically begs to be enjoyed on long afternoons on the patio with friends, enjoying summer caprese salads, light seafood or summer barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a butter poached lobster risotto, as the creamy richness of the dish is a perfect foil for the bright acidity of this wine.  Cheers!

2022 Helix Sangiovese Rose

Happy Saturday!  I trust you are all enjoying a wonderful Memoria Day weekend.  I spend much of the day at the cemetery planting flowers for my relatives, but now I am back home and ready for a nice glass of wine dinner.  Given the near proximity of summer, tonight I've decided to open a classic summer wine, the 2022 Helix Sangiovese Rose.  This wine is a rose of 100% Sangiovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this burst of summer is tasting!

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, and a gentle swirls reveals aromas of peach blossom, strawberry amid hints of citrus.  Take a sip and summer comes rushing in, crisp refreshing notes of grapefruit, fresh melon and tropical notes of guava and mango.  This wine has a crisp and refreshing dry finish that's just perfect for summer sipping on the patio.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just a wonderfully simple, refreshing wine that is an ideal representation of what rose should be.  This wine would pair well with seafood, light salads or beef tartare.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my Memorial Day lobster fest, as my local market had live Maine lobsters on sale for just $9.99, along with a sale on corn on the cob, so here I am, enjoying a perfect taste of summer in late May.  Cheers!

2022 Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rosé

Happy day after St. Patrick's Day!  Despite what a long week I've had, I've decided to open a new bottle of wine to enjoy with my traditional dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2022 Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rosé.  The Underground Wine Project was a collaboration between Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan Winery) and Trey Busch and Jerry Solomon (of Sleight of Hand Cellars) who began this collaboration in 2009.  And here we are.  The 2022 Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rosé is a blend of Sangiovese (58%) and Syrah (42%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, just as you'd hope for an ideal summer rosé.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of peach, strawberry and honeysuckle that might trick your brain into expecting a sweeter wine.  Take a sip and the tropical fruit notes come right to the forefront, but then ease back to let some subtle floral notes of  jasmine and honeysuckle come forward, even as you experience some buttery notes reminiscent of Chardonnay.  The flavors come together for a wonderfully crisp dry finish with a reprise of floral at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a super pleasant drinking rosé, ideal for sipping on the patio this summer.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with salmon, fresh summer salad, particularly caprese or just plain hanging out with friends.  Tonight, I've paired this wine with my traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner of slow cooked corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes along with some buttered soda bread.  Cheers!

2021 Claire-Voie Coteaux D'Aix en Provence Rose

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've managed a mid-week post, and tonight it's a throwback to summer.  Given January in Indiana is not even remotely warm and sunny, I thought it might be nice to hearken back to the warm evenings on the patio enjoying a lovely glass of rose with friends.  Ironically, tonight's wine is one I bought from Wines Till Sold Out back in the summer, but time flew by and before I knew it, the leaves had fallen and the patio furniture was put into storage.  So, tonight I've opened the 2021 Claire-Voie Coteaux D'Aix en Provence Rose, a blend of Syrah (60%), Grenache Noir (30%) and Vermentino (10%).  Let's have a glass!

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass with gold hues along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of green grass, fresh citrus, and the faintest hint of passion fruit.  The first sip is a rush of tart green apple, strawberry and peach that eases into some mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, leading in to a faint note of bitterness on the finish (a nod to the Vermentino) which is crisp and dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant rose overall, but I could do without the slight bitterness on the finish.  This wine would pair well with seafood, summer salads or lighter pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a panko crusted grouper filet with jasmine rice and shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon, maple and pomegranate (my new favorite preparation this winter).  Cheers!

2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I spend a good portion of the afternoon decorating Christmas trees, and I'll admit I did not quite finish, but at least there is wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé.  I know it's a bit past rosé season, but what the heck.  This wine is a pure Grenache rosé from the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of peach, green grass and hints of rose petals.  Take a sip and you're greeted with crisp citrus, melon and fresh herbs that wash over your palate before transitioning easily to some notes of strawberry and earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp and very dry with a reprise of peach and white floral notes and the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an ideal summer sipper, perfect for friends on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with a range of summer salads, from a citrus and pomegranate with arugula, to roasted beet and feta.  This wine would also pair well with some curry chicken and vegetables, or classic lighter seafood, like alder planked salmon or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some steamed snow crab legs with drawn butter, ideal for a Sunday dinner!  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Columbia Valley Chardonnay

As most of you are no doubt aware, I am not much of a white wine consumer.  That said, I also can't resist a mystery box, so when Forgeron recently offered a mystery case of wine for just $150, I couldn't pass it up!  And one bottle in the mystery case was a 2019 Forgeron Chardonnay, a 100% Chardonnay sourced entirely from the Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright golden color on the glass, more akin to lemon as opposed to a golden olive oil color.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of lemongrass, pear and hints of tropical fruit amid undertones of oak.  Take a sip and you are treated to a rush of lemon, pear and pineapple notes that envelope your palate before transitioning to some mineral notes and hints of oak midpalate.  The finish is crisp and dry with just a faint impression of the classic Chardonnay "buttery sweetness" at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Chardonnay that would be ideal for the upcoming holidays.  This wine would pair well with a variety of seafood, Thanksgiving turkey or pork.  Tonight, I am exploring the latter and enjoying this wine with an Asian zing grilled pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes with chives and some maple bacon shaved Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 DaMa Wines Chardonnay

Happy Sunday!  It's fall, so that means every weekend that it doesn't rain I'm spending at least one afternoon gathering leaves and putting them out in the street for pickup, and so that's how I spent my afternoon today.  But at least the weather was gorgeous, with lots of sun and highs in the upper 70s, I got one last chance to work in the yard in shorts.  And now that I'm done, I'm ready to sit down for Sunday dinner, which has been roasting as I was working.  And to go with it, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2020 Chardonnay, which is sourced from the Conner Lee Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this unusual white wine for me to review is tasting!

The wine is a pale gold color in the glass, and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of faint lemon citrus, hints of pear and pineapple, suggesting a much more fruit forward Chardonnay than the classic butter bombs.  Take a sip and it's like you've washed ashore on a tropical island, with a rush of pineapple, mango and hibiscus that capture your imagination as you follow the flavor adventure to some vanilla cream notes on the finish, which is crisp and dry.

I am not a but white wine fan, and many Chardonnays I find very one dimensional, but this one is really a pleasant drinking wine that's sure to please a wide crowd of wine drinkers.  For that, I would happily rate this wine a solid 9, perhaps the highest rating I've ever given a white wine.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from halibut to classic fish tacos, moules frites or Thai curry, but tonight I am enjoying this with a classic Sunday dinner of roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy, along with some asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Les Vignerons d'Aix en Provence L'Exception Méditerranée Rosé

Happy Sunday!  It's been a day of best laid plans, as I had originally planned to trim all my hedges, but as I started my hedge trimmer, the blades would not engage, and since I'm reticent to trouble shoot in situations where I might lose a finger, I decided to merely trim larger branches and dig up some pesty trees.  And now I am ready for wine and dinner on the patio.  Since we are in the the heart of rosé season, I thought it best to open something from Provence, which I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2021 Les Vignerons d'Aix en Provence L'Exception Méditerranée Rosé.  This wine is a blend of Grenache and Caladoc (a cross of Grenache and Malbec), so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, in line with the current trend in rosé.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals a cascade of peach, melon and pineapple that just dares you to sip by the pool, a true summer day in the glass.  Take a sip and all the flavors of summer come to greet you, peach, melon, citrus and fresh cut grass with plenty of bright acidity and bits of honey and sunshine.  The finish is crisp and dry, perfect for sipping on the patio with friend.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a wonderfully classis rosé  ideal for the summer season.  Enjoy this wine with summer caprese salad, shrimp cocktail or gazpacho for a wonderful afternoon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin Scottish pearl salmon with some dill cream, along with some risotto and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!