Clos De L'Obac 2005 Priorat Red Wine, $38.24-$49.99, 93+ points, poured core black grading a slightly cloudy ruby then purple/red toward the broad clear wine ring.
For the second time in a week that amazing aroma of cinnamon/ginger spiced red cherry crossed my olfactory sense, but this one had lovely floral, cedar, and black fruit notes as well (as good as it gets).
The body was full, it was velvety, and mouth-wateringly acidic with firm buffered tannins.
Flavors of plum, black berries, black cherry cordial, and anise were excellent.
Finished long on truffle notes, tobacco, plum, anise, easy spices, and a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
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Chateau Saint Sulpice Esprit de Saint-Sulpice 2014 Bordeaux White Wine, $9.34-$14.99, 90 points, poured a glossy gold color.
Shy aromas of warm-wet stones, citrus notes, and a floral component were good.
This Bordeaux Blanc was dry, was light, crisp with good acidity, it was stony, refreshing, showed lemony flavors with hints of lime, and finished long on the tart trailing palate, a touch of cumquat and a round 12.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon.
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Des Amis Napa Valley 2015 Rosé, $14.99-$19.99, 86 points, poured an orange/rose color.
Aromas were shy, but more reflective of a big red wine than most of the Rosé wines I've had; marked by earthy smells and black fruit with a hint of juniper, not your typical red fruit aromas.
Light, trending light-plus body with good acidity, a bit tart, some citrus going on here, but until the fair finish with hints of ginger and a slightly pronounced 13.5% alcohol, I found the overall flavors rather tame to non-descript.
Varietals were Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.
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Rosé Wines (USA)
Alexander Valley Vineyards Sonoma County 2017 Dry Rosé Of Sangiovese, $11.89-$15.99, 91 points
Anew Columbia Valley 2016 Rosé, $9.99-$12.99, 85 points
Bonny Doon Vineyard 2009 Vin Gris De Cigare Rosé, $11.89-$15.99, 91 points
Bonny Doon Vineyard 2013 Vin Gris De Cigare Rosé, $9.99-$19.99, 91+ points
Bonny Doon Vineyard 2016 Vin Gris De Cigare Rosé, $8.49-$19.99, 88 points
Carol Shelton Wild Thing 'Rendezvous' 2016 Rosé (Mendocino County), $12.74-$14.99, 90 points
Charles and Charles 2010 Rosé, $12.99, 88 points
Charles Smith VINO 2015 Sangiovese Rosé, $13.49-$14.99, 88 points
Clayhouse Adobe Pink 2011 Rosé, about $12.00, 86+ points
Cline Contra Costa County 2011 Mourvèdre Rosé, $7.99-$14.99, 91 points
Cline Contra Costa County 2012 Mourvèdre Rosé, $5.99-$14.99, 87+ points
Cline Contra Costa County 2017 Mourvèdre Rosé, $9.34-$10.99, 87 points
Chronic Cellars Paso Robles Pink Pedals 2015 Rosé, $12.74-$17.99, 90 points
Chronic Cellars Paso Robles Pink Pedals 2017 Rosé, $12.74-$17.99, 90 points
Clos Pegase Napa Valley Estate Bottled 2016 Rosé, $16.14-$20.99, 88 points
Cupcake Vineyards (California) 2016 Rosé, $7.99-$12.99, 86 points
Dark Horse Limited Release 2015 Rosé, $8.99-$11.99, 88 points
Day Owl California 2016 Barbera Rosé, $11.99-$14.99, 90 points
Dazzle Cellars The Benches Vineyard At-Wallula, Julia's Dazzle Rosé (Horse Heaven Hills, WA) $16.14-$18.99, 92 points
Des Amis Napa Valley 2015 Rosé, $14.99-$19.99, 86 points
Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes 2014 Rosé, $14.44-$16.99, 90 points
Dr. Konstantin Frank 'Salmon Run Rainbow' Finger Lakes NV Rosé, $10.19-$11.99, 84 points
Ferrari Carano Sonoma County 2018 Dry Sangiovese Rosé, $11.89-$16.99, 90 points
Francis Coppola Monterey County "Sofia' 2015 Rosé, $14.99-$17.99, 85 points
Frog's Leap "La Grenouille Rougante" Napa Valley 2016 Rosé Of Valdiguié, $16.99-$19.99, 90 points
Gruet Brut Rosé, $12.23-$18.99, 89 points
Gruet NV Brut Sparkling Rosé, $16.99-$18.99, 88 points
Hawkes 2014-vin-gris (100% Tempranillo Rosé) $20.00, 90 points
Hoopla Napa Valley 2016 Rosé, $7.99-$18.99, 88 points
Inman Family Russian River Valley, Sonoma, 2014 Rosé Pinot Noir, $23.99-$27.99, 90 points
Klinker Brick Lodi 2016 Rosé, $11.89-$13.99, 87 points
Klinker Brick Lodi Rhône-styled 2018 Rosé, $11.04-$15.99, 89 points
Martin Ray Russian River 2015 Rosé Of Pinot Noir, $12.74-$14.99, 89 points
Meiomi California 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé, $6.82-$19.99, 86 points
Ménage à Trois 2015 Rosé, $8.88-$12.99, 87 points
Merriam Vineyards Russian River Valley 2015 Pinot Noir Rosé, $16.99-$19.99, 91 points
MUMM Napa Valley Brut Rosé, $16.99-$19.99, 92 points
North By Northwest Columbia Valley 2014 Rosé, $6.99-$14.99, 86 points
R. Stuart Big Fire 2008 Dry Rosé, about $15.00, 87 points
Robert Sinskey Vineyards Carneros 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé, $24.64-$28.99, 91 points
Simple Life California 2017 Rosé, $9.34-$12.99, 87 points
Sokol Blosser Dundee Hills 2015 Rosé of Pinot Noir, $16.14-$18.99, 89 points
Underwood Oregon 2018 Pinot Gris Rosé $10.19-$14.99, 89 points
Vinum Cellars Seashell Vineyard, Paso Robles 2016 Rosé, $10.62-$14.49, 88 points
Waterbrook Columbia Valley 2017 Sangiovese Rosé, $16.99, 88 points
Rosé Wines (France)
Rosé Wines (International)
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Binyamina 2014 Chardonnay (Israel), $12.99-$14.99, 91 points, poured a Hardware brass color.
I was impressed by the outstanding bouquet having a typical Chardonnay grape aroma with hints of lemon, vanilla, and a soft floral component.
Medium-bodied, good acidity, crisp, clean, refreshing, and flavors of the bouquet which were totally in balance.
Finished long on the trailing palate with a restrained 13% alcohol and a hint of black pepper.
Paired perfectly with my spiced swordfish with a garlic, butter, and chive drool.
This is my style of Chardonnay, and as I see it, a real value (QPR); from the Gilboa mountains, and not anything like a typical "big/buttery/butterscotch" Cali Chardonnay, and those addicted to said Cali Chardonnay wines, will be disappointed.
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Castel Giocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) 2010 Brunello DI Montalcino, $33.99-$65.99, 94+ points, poured a crimson red grading from ruby to maroon and a slightly reddish-brown toward the broad clear wine ring.
First whiff was this amazing cinnamon/ginger spiced red cherry and juniper with fresh laundered linen (as good as it gets).
Near full-bodied, mouth-watering acidity, sweet grainy duraturo tannins, and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, and red pepper spice all dominated by the hot 15% alcohol and oak notes which carried into the unending finish with a touch of mint.
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La Fleur d'Amelie 2015 Bordeaux Rosé,
$11.04-$12.99, 90 points, poured a mango/peach color.
Smells of shy watermelon and strawberry with a floral note were okay.
Light-bodied, crisp, good acidity, and juicy enhanced flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of hibiscus and tropical fruit trailed deep into the finish accented by a touch of red pepper and a well-integrated 12.5% alcohol.
Varietals were Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
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