The Hell With This Crappy Weather - Let's Break Out Some Rosé!
Florida's flooding, New York is baking and the West Coast is freezing. Let's drink!
I’ve done a rundown of some of the best Northwest rosés on www.paulgwine.com. Here are the top three.
Wine of Week – Julia's Dazzle 2022 Pinot Gris Rosé
Part of the Long Shadows lineup, this popular rosé comes in a distinctive bowling pin-shaped bottle. Pinot Gris when left awhile on the skins has a natural blush color, which is unusual for a white wine grape. This is all you could wish for in a springtime sipper – it's fruity, forward, crisp, clean and lovely to look at. 6945 cases; 13.4%; $18-$20 (Columbia Valley) 92/100
https://longshadows.com/wines/2022-julias-dazzle/133
Outstanding Value – Portlandia NV Rosé Sparkling Wine
This non-vintage Syrah-based wine, made by the traditional method, is lovely to look at – a fading sunset hue. I've had few if any sparkling Syrahs, but this one avoids unnecessary tannins or earthy funk. It might easily be mistaken for a sparkling Pinot Noir, which is a good thing. The flavors dance around mixed tree fruits and citrus, and if you look hard there are hints of berry also. It's a captivating wine that delivers plenty of pleasure for the price. 4880 cases; 12%; $22 (Columbia Valley) 91/100
https://portlandiavintners.com/sparkling-rose/
Most Interesting – Ricochet 2022 Confluence Rosé
A field blend of Syrah, Malbec and Viognier grown at Moody vineyards in the Columbia Gorge, this is a highlight from the portfolio of Erich Berg. Barrel fermented, this is revelatory, capturing lovely floral and citrus aromatics that lead into a lushly-textured and lively palate. Details of citrus, orange liqueur and earthy strawberries come out, but this is not a heavy or tiring wine in any way. Its flavors extend and develop much as an older rosé might, so the prospect for additional complexity is tantalizing. But right now it's hard to resist. 300 cases; 13%; $25 (Columbia Gorge) 92/100
https://vinoshipper.com/shop/ricochet/confluence_rose_107480