2016 Domaine Tempier Bandol, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is 75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, and 2% Carignan.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight.  Dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, this has a wonderful glycerin texture but is tight as a drum.  Not much fruit today.  Some slightly bitter notes.  With air some black cherries come out.  Shorter finish.  This keeps getting better with air so if drinking soon, give it a few hours in a decanter.  Better to wait five to ten more years on it.  All that said, it's perhaps harsh as the overall experience is still very pleasing.  It will need big food today to pair

2015 Chateau Val D'Arenc Fontbrune Bandol, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This was a new house for me.  In a blind tasting, it was the groups #2 wine.  While it did not rank quite that high for me, it is an outstanding wine to be sure.  A blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 15% Cinsault, and 15% Grenache.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  Bright.  The nose has a cherry sweet tart quality.  Also fresh cherries and sour cherries.  Slight earthiness with a touch of volatile acidity.  On the palate, this has a slick texture.  Slight tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  Medium finish.  This may still improve a bit as it is still young.  It should easily have five to seven more y

2018 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 20% Cinsault.  Arguably the best Rose made today.  Certainly, it is right up there with a rich track record.  This vintage is another winner.  A salmon pink and copper color.  The nose is very pretty with watermelon along with a slight strawberry and a steely quality.  On the palate, this is light and crisp.  Slight tannins.  Slightly oily texture.  Strawberries and slight watermelon notes.  Supple.  This seems more rounded that some vintages.  Good finish.  This is very food friendly and will go with almost any food or on its own.  These are suppose

2018 Aime Roquesante Côtes de Provence Cuvée Sélectionnée, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019

This is a great value Rosé from Provence.  It comes in a "flute a corset Provençal" shaped bottle.  This wine is pink/orange in color.  It has a lovely nose of strawberries with some apricots and slight citrus.  On the palate, the strawberries come thru along with a bit of cherries.  This is clean and easy to drink.  very tasty.  It has a nice energy which will fade quickly.  Though this wine may last for a few years, it should be drunk now to best enjoy it.  It will drink well on its own or with lighter fare but will also work with ribs or other grilled foods in a refreshing way.   

2018 Bieler Père et Fils Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rosé Sabine, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$11.00USD

A very pretty Rosé from the heart of Provence.  52% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cinsault, and 3% Rolle.  Salmon pink in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight floral and strawberries.  On the palate, this is dry.  Slightly viscous.  Nice strawberry fruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This won't drink better than this but should be good for another year.  It goes well with lighter food and salads.  Great value.  

2018 14 Hands Rosé, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$5.00USD

This is from a can although it appears they also sell this in bottles.  It is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Grenache.  It has a reasonably deep pink/ruby color.  The nose has cherries and raspberries.  On the palate, this is easy drinking and refreshing.  Flavors of cherries and strawberries.  No tannins.  Ready to drink now.  Worked well with salty fried food but should go with a wide variety of foods.  The trend of wine cans is catching on.  For wines that are made for now, this is a convenient, non-breakable alternative.  I hope more wineries go this route.  

2018 La Closerie des Lys Les Fruitières Rosé, France, Languedoc, Limoux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This is a nice, easy drinking rose from the south of France, made from Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache.  Light salmon/burnt orange in color.  The nose has watermelons and orange citrus.  On the palate, more viscous than expected.  It is dry.  13% ABV on the label.  Strawberries with a bit of bitterness on the finish.  Some warmth as well.  Priced at $14, this is a fine wine on its own on the back deck on a summer night and will work with some lighter foods too.  Drink this year.  

2018 Château Minuty Côtes de Provence M, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

I don't know where you live, but here on the shores of Lake Erie, its been a wet, cool spring.  That might be good for the grapevines, but its put a bit of a damper on drinking outside.  But, it looks like we finally made it.  Time to open up some Rose!  This is a very attractively packaged rose from Provence.  A blend of  Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. It is quite pale pale salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  On the nose, this has lots of fresh strawberries, slight hint of orange peel and and a nice minerality.  On the palate, this has a bigger texture than it light color might lead o

2017 Cruse Wine Company Monkey Jacket, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a hodgepodge of grapes made in a "natural wine" style.  Twenty-five percent Alicante Bouschet, Grenache, Cinsault, Mondeuse, and Zinfandel from one source; another 25% Valdiguié; and the rest Syrah, Tannat, St. Laurent, and Carignan made from vineyards across California.  This was being closed out at a local wine store for $20.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a sweaty sock quality to it.  Once you get past that, there are some cherries and pomegranate notes.

2014 Denner The Ditch Digger, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, 5% Counoise.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, leather, plums, slight earthiness, char and some black cherries.  On the palate, this has a wonderful rich texture.  Medium tannins.  It is young but bursting with fruit without being over the top.  Black cherries, black raspberries, underlying earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This is a big wine and needs either big or spicy food.  It is still probably 7 years from maturity and will last another 10 after that (at least).  That said, it is delicious and enjoy

Pages