Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/68310
BLUE REVIEWS 88 California ($8) Smooth, silky and fresh; juicy, clean and decent with nice plum and acid structure; super value. Oak Grove 2010 Reserve Merlot, 89 88 90 Vines, Amador County ($13) Juicy and bright with spice, bramble and wild raspberry fruit; tangy, long and ripe but nicely balanced and fresh. Sobon Estate 2010 Zinfandel, Old Provençal Pinks ROSÉ SEASON IS HERE. Just in time for warm-weather quaffi ng, I recently tasted a slew of fresh, juicy releases from the true home of rosé wine: Provence. Here are the top-rated bottles. The rest of my notes can be found at www.tastingpanelmag.com. 89 Real Compañia de Vinos 2009 Tempranillo, La Tierra de Castilla, Spain ($10) Clean, fresh and juicy with ripe raspberry and cherry fruit; tangy, smooth and some nice depth. QUINTESSENTIAL Eppa Suprafruta Sangria, USA ($12) Deep ruby color; lush nose of berries and black fruit; smooth and rich with ripe, juicy fruit and a nice blend of wine and juices; harmonious with some sweetness and good acidity to balance it; natural, juicy and long with a lovely mellow fi nish; great over ice, with soda or even a shot of gin. 88 Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile ($16) Juicy and clean with bright plum fruit and nice texture; good acid structure and length. Cono Sur 2010 Visión Cabernet VINEYARD BRANDS SPIRITS 94 89 90 Domaine Saint André de Figuière 2011 Côtes de Provence Cuvée Signature Magali ($8) Bright and racy with clean tangy fl avor; lively, crisp and long. Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Cabernet. PAUL M YOUNG FINE WINES 2011 Côtes de Provence Saint- Roch Les Vignes Rosé ($14) Fresh, lush and clean with balanced fruit; minerally and long. 50% Grenache, 50% Cinsault. JEFF WELBURN SELECTIONS de Figuière 2011 Côtes de Provence Vieilles Vignes ($16) Smooth and juicy; pure and balanced with a nice crisp fi nish; long and fresh. Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Grenache. PAUL M. YOUNG FINE WINES Domaine Saint André 89 Valentine Vodka, USA ($30) Smooth and creamy with vanilla and lovely mouth feel; lush, rich and dense with velvety texture; long, deep and seamless with an amazingly luscious fi nish. 89 62 / the tasting panel / june 2012 Fouquette 2011 Côtes de Provence Cuvée Rosée d'Aurore ($18) Racy and crisp showing bright strawberry and spice; lively, tangy and very clean. Domaine de la JEFF WELBURN SELECTIONS Cuvée Classique ($20) Tangy, juicy and fresh; simple, clean and racy with minerals and vibrant fruit. EUROPEAN WINE IMPORTS Château Roubine Cru Classé 2009 Côtes de Provence Les Maîtres Vignerons de la Presquîle de Saint-Tropez 90 Presqu'île de 2011 Côtes de Provence Château de Pampelonne ($19) Searingly juicy with long, racy fruit; clean and minerally with tangy acidity. 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, 10% Tibouren. JEFF WELBURN SELECTIONS Les Maîtres Vignerons de la 90 Domaine de Saint-Ser Côtes de Provence Sainte- Victoire Cuvée de l'Ermite ($22) Fresh and juicy; lively and clean with good structure and length. From very old vines. MILTON ROAD TRADING CO./POLANER SELECTIONS 90 91 Château dEsclans 2011 Côtes de Provence ($35) Pure, racy and fresh, showing strawberry and tangy acidity. Grenache, Rolle, Syrah, Tibouren, Cinsault. SHAW-ROSS INTERNATIONAL IMPORTERS Provence "Les Clans" ($70) Elegant, silky and juicy with tangy acidity and fi nesse; an exceptional rosé with long, delicate fl avors. Grenache and Rolle. SHAW-ROSS Caves d'Esclans 2010 Côtes de INTERNATIONAL IMPORTERS