Jane's Weekly Wines from the Atlanta Wine School PRINT AND GO VERSION June 1st, 2006 Coming Up Rosés *************************************************************************************** RETAILERS WHO SUPPORT THIS COLUMN AND HAVE HAD THIS LIST OF WINES IN ADVANCE. Corner Wine & Art, 1402 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306 -- 404-875-8810 Home Town Wine & Spirits, 4856 Hog Mountain Rd, Flowery Branch, GA --770-965-6058 The Colors of Wine, 2355 Cumberland Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339 -- 770-432-2828 Sigman Bottle Shop, 425 Sigman Road - Conyers, GA 30012 -- 770-929-8797 Shiraz, 675 Pulaski Street, Suite 400, Athens, GA 30601 -- 706-208-0010 Windward Beverage, 12915 Hwy 9, Alpharetta, GA 30004 -- 678-566-3301 IS YOUR WINE SHOP NOT LISTED HERE? HAVE THEM CALL 770-668-0435 *************************************************************************************** Mas de Bazán Rosado 2005 Utiel-Requena (just west of Valencia), Spain Medium-bodied dry rosé wine; light pinkish red. Outstanding red fruit aromas, with strawberry and cherry leading the pack. Luscious, voluptuous red fruit flavors, with exuberant spice. Long finish, crisp and dry. Extraordinary value, and exemplary of the genre. Grapes: Bobal (a dark-skinned, good acidity, deeply colored grape grown chiefly in eastern Spain); Grenache and Syrah. Needs to be enjoyed now. Not a keeper. Grilled garlic shrimp (or with Rémoulade), assorted tapas (croquetas; chirizo, jamön serrano, stuffed red peppers); pisto manchego (peppers, tomatoes and zucchini), roast chicken, black beans, barbecue, burritos, mild Malaysian curries with chicken or fish, ham steak, paella Bacco Fine Wine $9 90 ************************************************************************************* C. G. di Arie Rosé of Zinfandel 2005 Sierra Foothills, CA Medium-bodied slightly dry rosé; lovely fuscia pink color. Aromas of candied apple with a slight hint of spice. Spice, candied apple fruit fills the palate. Good acidity keeps freshness and prolongs the finish. About 20% went through malolactic fermentation, which rounds off the palate. A saignée of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petit Sirah with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Barbera blended in. Fermented in stainless steel, then aged in oak for three months, giving it complexity and structure, qualities not offered by a typical "blush" white Zinfandel. Doesn't like strong flavors; steer clear of garlic: Hummus; fried chicken and catfish; grilled shrimp with not-too-spicy Rémoulade sauce; crab cakes; crab and red pepper pàté (Summer Sweet); grilled chicken or salmon; tomato-based salads; grilled ham steak; paella Grapefields $14 88 ************************************************************************************* Domaine de Nizas Rosé 2005 Côteaux de Languedoc, France Medium-bodied dry rosé wine; gorgeous reddish pink color. Aromas of sweet red fruits, emphasis strawberry with a suggestion of rhubarb. Flavors deliver what the aromas promise, with good acidity and sweet fruit leading to a dry finish. 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah comprise the blend. Gravel, pebbles and red clay, with a limestone subsoil extremely well drained. Aperitif wine with all manner of light appetizers, including grilled shrimp, crab and roasted red pepper pàté (Summer Sweet), chicken or ham croquetas. Also fish/shellfish stews, tomato/Vidalia onion/red pepper salad (and lots of other salads), fried chicken, dishes with eggplant, tomato and roasted red pepper; Whole Foods' lemon chicken with garlic and black olives (great!); pizza, vegetable lasagna or quesadilla Empire Distributing 88 $15 ************************************************************************************* Alois Lageder Lagrein Rosé 2004 Alto Adige, Italy Full-bodied dry rosé wine; medium reddish pink. Aromas of red (strawberry) fruits and dark spices, red fruit flavors with a touch of rhubarb and dark spice. Crisp, very long finish. Totally delicious, and extremely food friendly. Grape type: Lagrein, a traditional Trentino-Alto Adige grape that's capable of some really silky reds. And obviously some really tasty rosés (or rosati in Italian). A whole bunch of good food: Tabbouleh; hummus; pasta salad with hefty garlic and smoked mozzarella (Whole Foods); salami, chorizo, deli meats; chicken salad wraps; mildly seasoned Malaysian chicken or seafood dishes; shrimp Rémoulade; rabbit or chicken chasseur; Cajun fare if not too spicy, such as crawfish salad (Harry's Whole Foods Alpharetta); salmon salad; fried chicken (even with some spice); grilled or smoked sausages or sausage rolls; pizza; barbecue with slightly spicy tomato-based sauce Quality Wine & Spirits $18 90 ************************************************************************************* Château Mourgues du Gres "Les Galets Rosés" 2005 Costières de Nîmes (Rhône), France Medium-bodied dry rroé wine; medium reddish pink. Aromas of red fruits (strawberries) and cinnamon hearts, with cinnamon heart notes keeping the fresh strawberry flavors lively. Fruit flavors balanced by crisp acidity and a clean, dry finish. Lovely balance. A saignée of Syrah and Grenache. Pzsta dishes with hefty garlic, garlic grilled garlic shrimp with mild (not too spicy) Rémoulade; wood-grilled salmon steak; ham steak; grilled asparagus salad; barbecue with mildly spicy tomato-based sauce; ratatouille and other eggplant-tomato dishes; vegetable lasagna or quesadilla; Unique World Wines $15 90 ************************************************************************************* Margan Famiily Wineery Shiraz Saignée Rosé 2005 Hunter Valley, AU Medium-bodied dry rosé wine; medium reddish pink. Aromas of strawberry and spice, with complex flavors that meld strawberry, spice, and a note or two of watermelon and candied apple. Silky texture. Finish is crisp, dry, and long. A compelling tastiness. Grape: 100% Shiraz. From low-yielding 40-7ear-old vines in Cornerstone Vineyard. No oak. Hefty alcohol (14%), but no hot finish. Shrimp Rémoulade, creamy garlicky pastas, salamis and cured deli meats (not too spicy), tomato-Vidalia onion-bell pepper salad (and other salads); barbecue (shredded with mild sauce), black bean dishes, ham steak with roasted potatoes, burritos; chicken, rabbit or pork with mild curries; mild fish or chicken tagines; cous cous (hold the harissa); paella Quality Wine & Spirits $18 92