ROSÉ, ROSÉ, ROSÉ, ROSÉ, & ROSÉ!

Spring has sprung. Summer has begun. It is time for refreshing wines, BBQ, salads and fireworks. As we head into this July 4th weekend, I've put together a roundup of tasting notes and thoughts on a handful of Rosé wines in the marketplace. Enjoy the official start of summer!

LA SCOLCA "Rosé Chiara" ROSATO - 2009

TASTING NOTES:

Orange-pink color with great rose petals, spicy strawberry and raspberry on the nose. Not sweet. Like a sugarless Jolly Rancher cherry candy on the palate.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

By far the best Rosé I tasted of the lot. Balanced with a great mouthfeel. Made from 95% Cortese and 5% Pinot Noir. Steel fermented in Piedmont, Italy. Retails for around $16.

EL COTO DE RIOJA ROSADO - 2009

TASTING NOTES:

Fire red-pink color. Strawberry and floral notes on the nose and palate. Subtle. From Rioja, Spain.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

83 PTS

Despite being made from bolder, bigger grapes (50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha), I found this wine to lack the fruit and power I had hoped for. The alcohol is present and the fruit is not. A fair effort but one that won't have you yearning for a second glass. Retails for $10.

HECHT & BANNIER Vin de Pays d' Oc Rosé - 2009

TASTING NOTES:

Bold pink-red color with flowers and raspberries on the nose. Spicy with strawberry/cherry upfront and a wonderfully distinct sour watermelon flavor on the mid-palate. Some light oak on the finish. From Languedoc-Roussillon, France. Made from 33% Syrah, 33% Cinsault and 33% Grenache.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86 PTS

The sour watermelon really sold me on this wine. It stands out from all the other Rosé wines as unique. The structure and acidity here offers enough to pair well with grilled fish and veggies and whatever else you desire to char. Retails for about $12.

SANTI "Infinito" Rosé of Bardolino - 2009

TASTING NOTES:

Fantastic electric pink color with muted aromas of strawberries and cherries. Fresh, clean and refreshing. On the palate there are light berry flavors, a hint of sweetness. Straight forward.

From Veneto, Italy. Made from 65% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86 PTS

You will be tempted to drink this one like fruit juice because it is so balanced that you'll forget it is a wine. A very simple Rosé but it wonderfully executes its simplicity. Retails for $11.

JABOULET COTES DU RHONE "Parallele 45 Rosé" - 2009

TASTING NOTES:

Amber pink color with a sweet tart and white pepper nose. On the palate, it is extremely tangy, tart and acidic. Simple, and light. Made in France from 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 10% Syrah.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

80 PTS

Not a great effort. The acidity here completely over-powers the fruit. The alcohol shows through and this wine comes off as unbalanced. Retails for around $12.

PETER LEHMANN BAROSSA SHIRAZ - 2008

Matured in French and American oak for 12 months prior to bottling. 14.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Rich red color with spicy black fruit on the nose. Lots of dark plums and black currants on the mid-palate. Hints of chocolate as the wine begins to open up. Charred oak on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87+PTS

The alcohol needs to settle down but there's some great fruit underneath. This wine always tastes better after it has had ample time to breathe and is often better on the second day. A heavy, big wine. A more controlled effort than in some previous vintages. Retails for around $16 a bottle.

BAROSSA CLANCY'S RED - 2007

A classic Aussie blend of 43% Shiraz, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. With 14% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red color with plum and cocoa on the nose. On the palate, good creamy black and red fruit. Lots of plum, black currants and dark cherry. The oak and alcohol is in check and a pretty balanced wine.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

Smooth and approachable. Not too big but enough power to pair well with robust dishes. Never quite gets dynamic or complex but a good mid-level wine for $16 a bottle.

PETER LEHMANN LAYERS RED BAROSSA - 2008

The first vintage release is a blend of three classic Barossa varietals with two new, exciting ones. 46% Shiraz, 20% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, 17% Tempranillo and 2% Carignane. 14.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark red color with lots of cherry and cocoa on the nose. Plum and wild berries with mocha and black fruits on the palate. Vanilla oak and some alcohol shows through on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

A vibrant mix of Australian fruits gives way to a great red blend. This wine is not over-the-top like lots of Aussie Barossa wines, but the alcohol does get a way from it a bit. Drinking this wine at a slightly cooler temperature seemed to be the perfect fix and helped the fruit show better. Retails for around $17.

PETER LEHMANN LAYERS ADELAIDE - 2009

Year two of Layers is a blend of Semillon (39%), Muscat (23%), Gewurztraminer (16%), Pinot Gris (16%) and Chardonnay (6%). Cold fermented with only 11.5% alcohol the wine sees no oak, only stainless steel.

TASTING NOTES:

Golden color with lots of citrus and honeydew melon on the nose. Great mouthfeel with peach, citrus, melon, tropical fruits and honey on the finish. Fresh, vibrant, smooth, balanced.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

Another great year for Layers. Although I'm scoring it identically to last year's vintage, I think 2008 was slightly better. That said, this is still a wonderful wine and a terrific blend. The low alcohol makes it a terrific summer white. Retails for around $16. A great value wine for this kind of quality.