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Domaine Chandon California Sparkling Rosé

Rosé is the newest in the line of Domaine Chandon's California sparkling wines, and New Year's Day 2007 was the perfect time to pop the cork on my first bottle.  Sparkling wine is all about the bubbles, appearances, and the celebration of living in the moment.  You have to be "in the mood" and usually that mood is one of "sitting on top of the world", "everything coming up roses", maybe even looking at life through "rose colored glasses".

Chandon Rosé is a visual victory achieved by adding 10% Pinot Noir at "tirage", the time when the yeast bodies from secondary fermentation are removed from the neck of the bottle.  The Pinot Noir dosage is added just before the final cork is pushed into the bottle.

Chandon describes the French Champagne méthode traditionnelle used to make this and all their California sparkling wines.  Tom Tiburzi, Winemaker, has come a long way from his childhood days when his parents introduced him to "sparkling wine" by way of mixing still wine with "7-Up".  Now he leads the sparkling wine efforts at this Napa outpost located in Yountville.

The base wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, picked a bit early to give the finished result a crisp light side.  The Pinot Noir is picked fully ripe providing structure and bold fruit forward flavors.  A year aging on the lees (yeast bodies) provides creamy texture.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Bright salmon pink with new copper penny and warm sunset highlights, profusely bubbly.  Aromas: Generous mixed fruit preserves showing strawberry, plum, blackcurrant and apricot, plus hints of vanilla taffy and hints of toast.  Very light, lively and softly structured, barely sweet, the bright berry and citrus flavors dance across the palate.  A little pie crust shows itself in the sophisticated minerally dry finish.

Outstanding value ($16).  Alcohol content: 12.5%.

Food pairing: Very thin whole wheat toast slathered with Swiss blackcurrant preserves.

Vinum Cellars Rosé It's Okay 2005

You have to appreciate the down-to-earth yet creative approach, and the results.  By bleeding off some pink juice from their Napa Cab crush, Vinum Cellars winemaker/owners Richard Bruno and Chris Condos are able to produce both this brilliant rosé plus a highly concentrated red Cab.

Bruno and Condos report the 2005 Rosé is now sold out, but the 1371 cases were produced from 100% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, grown by Jim Frediani in the Calistoga area.

Tasting Notes: Color: Deep brilliant cherry red, transparent.  Aromas: Fruit, along the lines of cherry, raspberry, plum, apple, and lemon, plus hints of cold blossoms.  Medium-bodied with light tannins, the mouthwatering tart fruit punch flavors finish bone dry with a kick.

Excellent value ($9).  Closure: Screw cap.  Alcohol content: 14%.

Here's another creative feature: "A portion of the profits from this wine is donated to a national Breast Cancer Research Foundation."

Food pairing: Shrimp and chorizo pizza.

Ninet de Pena Rosé 2004

The 'kid' ('ninet' in Catalan) on the label reflects the not-so-serious dry rosé inside.  Like the wine, the cartoon corkscrew is androgynous, with feminine style and that screw between its legs.

Dan Kravitz' Hand Picked Selections reports the Syrah (60%) and Grenache (40%) in Ninet de Pena Rose 2004 is from Cases de Pene.  This area, although technically part of France, is really considered part of Catalonia*, near the border with Spain.

Tasting Notes: Color: Blood orange pink, transparent.  Aromas: Strawberry, watermelon, Campari Liqueur, sour candy, and hints of rose and tea.  The body is light, tart, crisp and dry, with mild tannins.  Light berry and slightly bitter citrus flavors wake up your appetite.

Closure: Plastic "cork".  Excellent value ($8).  Alcohol content: 12.5%.

Food pairing: Tuna Salad with chips.

*Catalonia encompasses parts of Spain and France and its 8 million (+/-) people consider Barcelona their capital city, regardless of whether French or Spanish.  Much of the world's important modern art has been produced in Catalonia, from Dali, Picasso and Miro, among others.

Babcock Winery Big Fat Pink Shiraz 2005

With the market flooded with excellent Syrah, what did Bryan Babcock do with tons of perfect 2005 Syrah that was surplus? He made a supersize Rosé out of it, and his wife Lisa captured the mode and mood with her clothing-inspired label design.  What a creative way to attract new customers to a family winery.

The composition of Babcock's Big Fat Pink Shiraz is 89% Syrah from Estelle Vineyard and 11% Cabernet Franc from Terra Alta Vineyard, both in Santa Ynez Valley. Vinification was all stainless steel, with a small (5%) portion allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation. Alcohol is a hefty 14%, and residual sugar is negligible. Production: 1876 cases. Tasting Notes.  Color: Orange tinted vibrant pink. Aromas: Cherry, orange, blueberry and cotton candy. The mouthfeel is fat and juicy, sweet-tart around the tongue, and there are very mild tannins. Ample fruit and tea flavors linger into the crisp finish. Closure: Artificial "neocork". Excellent value ($15).

Yalumba "Y Series" Sangiovese Rosé 2005

Young, fruity and charming, this South Australian rosé makes for a colorful lunch pairing or afternoon delight.  Food & Wine Magazine recently named it "worth the hype". The producer, Australia's oldest family-owned winery, is in its sixth generation and has a talented team of winemakers. Louisa Rose, Senior Winemaker, was responsible for "Y Series" Sangiovese Rosé 2005. Tasting Notes.  Color: Warm ruby transparent. Aromas: Vanilla cream, cold blossoms, red berries, plums. Light-to-medium-bodied and dry, the sour cherry and apple, plus cassia/spice and mineral flavors finish strongly for a rosé. Closure: Screw cap. Excellent value ($12).

Red Bicyclette Rosé 2004

The Gallo family's Red Bicyclette label is a fun and appropriate vehicle for delivering southern French terroir for less than ten bucks.

The source of fruit for Red Bicyclette Rosé is the Languedoc region in the south of France near the Mediterranean and the border with Spain. The blend is mostly Syrah and Grenache, plus a small amount of Cinsault. Tasting Notes. Color: Persimmon red tinted pink. Aromas: Orange, lime, cherry and floral/rose essences. Light-bodied and tart, the citrus and light red fruit flavors finish crisp and clean. Closure: Artificial "neocork".    Very nice value ($9). Drink up! The 2005 has been released.

Gran Feudo Julian Chivite Garnacha Rosé 2005

Androgynous young wine arrives just in time for warmer times. It was made using the saignée method. After the traditional 24-hour maceration, the juice is drawn off by gravity, without pressing. The composition of Julian Chivite Gran Feudo Rosé 2005 is 100% Garnacha, sourced from Navarra*. Tasting Notes. Color: Cherry red tinted pink, transparent. Aromas: Strawberries, spearmint, green tea, grapefruit. On the tongue: Light bodied tart and dry, with red berry and citrus flavors, and a crisp refreshing finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($10).

*Navarra borders the south of France, on the western end, almost to the Bay of Biscay. The vineyards are located primarily to the south of Pamplona.

Goats do Roam Rosé 2005

Trust Fairview's frisky goats to find a big rosé at a small price. The Goats do Roam label is the top selling South African wine label in the USA, having begun as a single offering in Charles Back's Fairview line.

Goats do Roam Rosé 2005 is a blend of Shiraz, Pinotage, Cinsault, Grenache and Merlot. Lots were vinified separately in Fairview’s winery in Paarl by Back and winemaker Anthony de Jager. The alcohol level is a hefty 14.5%. Tasting Notes. Color: Bright cranberry pink transparent. Aromas: Cherry, red berries and orange plus grassy/herbal notes. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, dry, tart and fleshy/round. Creamy berry flavors and citrusy tartness lead to a refreshing finish. Closure: Screw cap. Excellent value ($8, Total Wine). Imported by Vineyard Brands.

Hendry Ranch Napa Valley Rosé 2005

What to do with an abundance of high quality - make that exceptional - fruit, when there are only so many barrels available for aging? In 2005, this be the case, why not make a remarkable rosé priced for everyday?

Hendry's 2005 Rosé is pretty big, at 13.9% alcohol. The blend is a saignée, or "bleeding", of Primitivo and kissing cousin Zinfandel. Fermentation was long, cool, in small bins, and the aging was 4 months in stainless. Mike Hendry's vineyard management and winemaking skills are really together with this vintage. Tasting Notes:  Color: Watermelon pink transparent. Aromas: Delicate mixed fruit; strawberry, watermelon, apricot, grapefruit, and cold blossoms. On the tongue, this zippy rose is light-bodied with lightly extracted structure. Grapefruity tart assorted fruits, especially sour cherry, grow on you and then make you take notice in the finish. Closure: Real cork.

Excellent value ($14). Food pairing: Steelhead trout almondine and dirty rice.

Domaine De Fontsainte Corbiéres Rosé 2004

Kermit Lynch is serious about French Rosé, and he imports several choices in the under $15 range.  Kermit has been credited with helping revive interest in quality rosés, by continuing to import them even when they were very much out of favor a number of years back.

Domaine De Fontsainte Gris de Gris Rosé  is from Corbiéres, in southern France, The blend is of 40% Grenache Gris, 30% Carignan and 30% Cinsault. Tasting Notes. Color: Salmon orange transparent. Aromas: Strawberry, citrusy orange, cold blossoms, melon and hints of herbs. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, very tart, dry and a bit tannic. The citrusy, cherry/berry and spiced tea flavors reverberate in the firm dry finish. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($13).   Drink up!  The 2005 is coming soon.  Great by itself or with chicken salad.