Here’s some great food friendly finds for summer including 3 value Rosé wines!
This is a great round-up of some new supermarket finds we’ve come across in the past month or so. What’s really exciting is we’ve found 3 fantastic Rosé wines perfect for summer grilling.
Some Great Rosé Finds!
Domaine Sorin 2011 Rosé Terra Amata
DdV: 90
Price: $12
Blend: Grenache 40%, Cinsault 15%, Syrah 10%, Mourvèdre 15%, Carignan 10%, Rolle 5%, Orgi 5%
Source: Côtes de Provence AOC – France
This is Rosé as it should be and from where else than Provence the Rosé capitol of France. Wonderfully dry but refreshing and a great pair with a wide range of food from creamy cheeses to grilled oysters or some tangy BBQ chicken. Better yet we picked this up at Whole Foods for only $12! Bright strawberry and pomegranate on the nose gives way to more bright lush strawberry on the mid. Finish is crisp, minerally and bright. The fruit is rich and up front. A great Rosé for a terrific price.
Charles & Charles 2012 Rosé
DdV: 90
Price: $10.00 – $12.00
Blend: Syrah (81%) Mourvedre (16%), Cinsault (2%) and Grenache (1%)
Source: Washington State
We loved this right off the nose so to speak. Rose blossom, and hints of bright cherry greet your nose and then brings plenty of lush strawberry, ripe raspberry and hints of citrus on the draw and mid. Finishes bone dry with bright mineral notes. Great for summer grill or summer salads. This one will be found near our grill quite often from now on.
Francis Coppola – 2012 Sofia Rosé
DdV: 88
Price: $11.00 – $16.00
Blend: 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache
Source: Monterery County CA
A nice wine for a reasonable price but not quite as dry as the first two reviewed above. Nice medium dark color for a Rosé. On the nose plenty of strawberry and some bright raspberry give way to more strawberry and raspberry on the mid. Finishes nicely but a touch sweet with subtle mineral and some citrus. Another nice wine to pair with summer grill and salads.
Two Nice Chardonnays
Rodney Strong 2011 Chardonnay Sonoma County
DdV: 89
Price: $9.99 – $12.99
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Source: Sonoma County CA
A very nice deal especially when on sale! Bright citrus and hints of green apple on the nose. Draw and mid feature plenty more citrus with hints of pear and subtle vanilla. Nice bright finish with some light buttery oak. Very nice with seafood, lemon pasta, and salads. Also nice all by itself for a refreshing summer sipper.
Benziger 2011 Chardonnay
DdV: 89
Price: $9.99 – $14.99
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
A very nice and tasty chard for the price. Citrus blossom and pineapple on the nose give way to more lush citrus, pineapple, and hints of pear. Finish is crisp with a nice balance and some mineral notes. Great for fish or salads.
Two Red Blends for the Grill
Joel Gott 2011 Alakai Red Blend
DdV: 87
Price: $11.00 – $13.00
Blend: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignane
Source: Sonoma, Monterey
This Rhone style blend is a touch sweeter than we normally like but is still a nice grill wine. Black cherry, raspberry, and hints of pepper greet on the nose with plenty more big fruit on the mid. Finishes a touch sweet with some spice. This has peppercorn flat iron steak written all over it. A nice easy priced red.
Cameron Hughes 2009 Meritage
DdV: 86
Price: $7.99 – $9.99
Blend: Merlot 78%, Cabernet Sauvignon 17%, Carignane 3%, Petite Verdot 2%
Source: California
This is a very nicely priced and competent wine that will be rather versatile around the BBQ. On the nose, cherry candy, and currant. The mid has some nice dark fruit with hints of cassis. Nice mouth feel for wine of this price range. Finish is a touch short though. Great for hamburgers, skirt steak and similar BBQ fare.