2014 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Rosado
Lighter in flavor than expected for the deep color, very dry with some tannins and angularity. Needed food.
2014 Bieler Père et Fils Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Very pale. For $10 there probably isn't a better rose out there. Subtle Provencal rose typicity with good balance and finish.
2014 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Blanc Sonoma County
Had the Belle Glos pinot trademark lactic qualities, but where I don't care for that a bit in the red pinots, in this rose it came across as strawberry milkshake with an extraordinary cashmere texture on the palate. Still not what I crave, but was very, very popular at the nabe tasting.
2014 A to Z rose
Biggish, joyful fruit from mostly sangiovese and syrah fruit from the warmer climes of Southern Oregon. A real crowd pleaser, especially at $10.
2014 Ostatu Rioja Rosado Rosé Blend
Pale pink. Found this wine overly acidic and hard to drink alone. I have two more bottles--will hold them for next year.
2014 Tranche Cellars Pink Pape Blackrock Vineyard Yakima Valley Rosé Blend
Medium pink. Tranche is the Rhone style line from super-premium Washington cab maker Corliss. As expected, this was pure class and showed in a room with 18 other roses. Very deserving of it's $18 price.
2014 Trust Cabernet Franc Rosé Columbia Valley
Light blue-ish-red. Like the Tranche, this rises well above the quaffer level and shows good varietal character and serious intent.
2014 Charles & Charles Syrah Rosé Wahluke Slope
Dark, electric pink. So what do I categorize as quaffer level? This. Actually, though, it's not sweet as predicted (JC reported on a sweeter-than-expected 2013) and overall fairly pleasant if undistinguished. Raspberry-strawberry fruit and tangy finish. The two Charles of this wine are Washington rock star winemaker Charles Shaw and American-born Francophile Charles Bieler (see the #2 wine above.)
2014 Anakena Syrah Enco Cachapoal Valley
Odd plastic flavor to the fruit, unpleasant.
2014 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Les Griottes Gamay
Stunning wine. A million times better than the wan and indifferent bottle we had a month ago--travel shock, maybe? Complex and balanced; my favorite of the tasting.
2014 Quails' Gate Estate Winery Rosé Okanagan Valley VQA Gamay Noir, Gamay
Big on the palate, with ripeness creating a sweet impression of strawberry and canteloupe. Very new world and monodimensional. Not my style, but strongly appealed to the neophytes.
2014 Des Amis Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
I could find nothing about this wine on the internet; a previous vintage of rose made by them was apparently from pinot noir (and looked like it, I saw pix), but this has the ruby color and tannins of a cabernet based wine or cabernet blend so I'm guessing it's that. And it drinks like a claret. Masculine in style with hefty mouthfeel and firm tannins. Quite likeable, but serious. Would be an interesting one to age.
2014 Monmousseau Rosé d'Anjou Rosé Blend
Oh, is this pretty. Lavender/blue-ish pink. Not off-dry as expected of D'anjou, just precise and attractive in the delivery of cherry and pear fruit. Wish I'd bought more.
2014 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Stellenbosch
Bright ruby red with a slight orange hue. Watermelon and cherry in the mouth with a delightful edge of funk. Tangy and dry. Killer deal for $10, would buy more if there were any left in the state (there isn't).
2014 Bernard Griffin Sangiovese Rose
Very popular up in these parts, this one. Kind of entry level for it's smooth fruit. Easy to like but almost too easy, in a similar style I must prefer the brighter A to Z above for about the same grapes and price.
