Wine Wednesday is a new column where we discuss wines we’ve recently enjoyed, or not enjoyed, as the case may be. Because we are not wine experts, these “reviews” will be written in the typical B.S. style. We don’t take ourselves, or our wine, too seriously but hope you’ll enjoy our perspectives and maybe find a new bottle of wine to enjoy.
It’s been a while since our last Wine Wednesday post, due to the fact that we’ve been trying to clean up our diets a bit and thus (sadly) drinking less wine. However, we shared a couple of notable bottles with my brother and sister-in-law when they were visiting last week that I’m excited to share. To continue on with the theme of previous weeks, we’ve got a lot of rosé to discuss, including an ever elusive rosé port.
Famille Negril Diamant de Provence 2016
We’re all big fans of rosé (who isn’t?) so I made sure to stock up on the pink stuff before Cory and Melissa arrived. One of my favorites that I purchased is this Famille Negril Diamant de Provence 2016 rosé. This such a lovely, affordable wine to keep around the house. The color in the glass is so pale you’d almost mistake it for a white wine. The flavors are crisp, yet delicate with a big burst of berry fruits on the finish.
B.S. Bottom Line: At around $10 a bottle, this the perfect every day rosé when you want something a little different. Great on its own, but would be excellent with light seafood dishes.
Chateau Suau Bordeaux Rosé 2016
As I mentioned, one of our first stops during their visit was to La Jambe in Shaw. The French bar is oh so chic and sophisticated, but still offers some of the most reasonable bottle prices I’ve seen in DC. This 2016 Chateau Suau Bordeaux Rosé is one of the cheapest available, but drinks much more expensive. When selecting a rosé I rarely consider the Bordeaux region, but this wine has changed my mind. Certainly, this iteration is nothing mind-blowing but offered a nice floral bouquet on the nose, and classic strawberry and raspberry on the finish.
B.S. Bottom Line: Get yourself to La Jambe with some friends and order some cheese and this bottle of wine. You’ll feel fancy and French without breaking the bank.
Quinta do Tedo Rosé Port
This Quinta do Tedo Rosé Port is one of the final remnants of our trip to Porto in 2014. I’ve been waiting for the appropriate occasion to crack it open. For some reason, I decided that moment was after getting back from the Nats game over a gourmet snack of pizza bites. Needless to say, our palates weren’t quite on par for a proper tasting that night. But I’ve sipped it again since for perspective. And well, I’m not really sure what to think. Rosé port is far less common than tawny, ruby or even white ports and some wine enthusiasts thumb their noses at it claiming it’s not “real port”.
I remember liking this wine while tasting at Quinta do Tedo because it was much lighter and easier to drink than the tawny and ruby ports we had been tasting the majority of the trip. I also enjoyed our taster’s anecdote that it would make a good breakfast wine. It’s not terrible, but does have a bit of a cough syrup quality that I just can’t get past. I think serving it with a proper dessert would help, and I may also experiment with it in a cocktail.
B.S. Bottom Line: If you’re curious about rosé port, by all means give it a try. Maybe start with a glass at a restaurant over an entire bottle.
Honorable Mention: Benovia Pinot Noir
Another special bottle that we opened for our guests was a bottle of Benovia Pinot Noir from our trip to Sonoma last year. Sadly, I didn’t think to take a photo so I’m not entirely sure which bottle or vintage it was. However, as with every Benovia Pinot Noir I’ve tasted, it was wonderful. I really enjoy the heavier cab-like nature of California pinots, but Benovia manages to create wine with enough finesse for traditional Pinot Noir enthusiasts as well.
B.S. Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a special occasion Pinot Noir with a little more body, Benovia offers a lot of great options at varying price points. I’ve seen them at several local wine shops around town, but they also sell online.
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