All posts by The Savvy Lush

Hendry 2011 Rosé

Cost: Average price $15

Where buy now: Solo Vino

Grapes: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Primitivo

Region: Napa Valley, California

Vintage: 2011

Hendry 2011 Rosé

Yep, you’ve probably all been waiting with bated breath for the next Red wine of the week (or, perhaps semi-bated breath?). My day job responsibilities prohibited me from sticking to task, once again. And what’s this?  Another Rosé? Oh, just shut up and trust me.

I was introduced to this Rosé at Solo Vino’s Rosé Tasting a couple week’s back. After reviewing my notes, this one was starred by both myself and my husband. Say “hello” to Hendry Rosé from Napa Valley.

Admittedly, I am not as familiar with Napa as I am Sonoma Valley, but this wine embodies all the things I love. First, it hails from a family owned farm (since 1939!). Second, they solely use their own estate grapes to produce wines. They make wine in small batches and that can only lead to quality. This 2011 Rosé marks their 20th vintage!

This wine is created using saignée (Sahn-yay), which means bleeding in French. The saignée method is when the juice is allowed to macerate (soften in liquid) the skins, which is done to extract a certain color. When the wine turns the desired hue (pink, salmon, cranberry, puce, etc.), the tank is then opened to let the wine “bleed off” into another tank to be fermented and made into Rosé. The remaining wine stays in the tank to macerate longer to give the wine a deeper red color, and later is fermented to become a “standard” red wine. Such elaborate technique to refine nature into your bottle of wine! It’s all quite blinding, this science.

This wine is made with the following grapes: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Primitivo. If you are fans of any (or all),  this is your Rosé. If you are STILL hesitant to try pink wine (I’m looking at my “manly” friends), this is one to start with. It’s totally pink and fruity, but man up. Hell, drink it from a giant ceramic stein, your leather flask, or a hollowed out animal horn if you must- I won’t tell!   

Yeah, I know I keep saying Rosé embodies smells and tastes of strawberry, spice and everything nice. But if I could reach out of your screen and give you a glass of this right now, I would. (Don’t you sometimes wish you lived in the classic video for Aha’s “Take on Me”? No?!? Oh, right, me either.) This wine is dry, balanced with a little citrus and a little herb and goes with _everything_. I’ve had it several times now and I can’t find one thing this wine clashes with.

This is such a pleasing, Summery, drink-on-your-patio-until-you-get-perma-grin kinda wine, I can’t stand it. I even ran back to Solo Vino to buy more because it’s made in such a small batch. Folks, there are only a couple cases left and then, bye-bye 2011 Hendry Rosé. I guess that means every Rosé truly has it’s…  Well, you know.

Domaine de Figueiresse Gris de Gris Rosé

Cost: Average price $12

Where buy now: Zipp’s Liquors, Solo Vino

Grapes: 30% Cinsault, 20% Grenache Gris, 40% Grenache Noir and 10% Grenache Blanc

Region: Gulfe du Lion, Languedoc France

Vintage: 2011

Domaine de Figueiresse Gris de Gris Rosé

Since we are in the midst of Rose season, I must bring you another Rose that is both moderately priced and tastes amazing. Introducing the Domaine de Figueiresse Gris de Gris. It’s predominantly Grenache [Granache peeps holla!] and part Cinsault, a red wine grape whose main purpose is for blending with other grapes.  Cinsault [sin SO] is often blended with Grenache to give it a soft, fruity taste that’s also pleasantly aromatic.  This wine is yummy and at around $10, it’s real yummy.

I was introduced to this Rosé at a tasting hosted by The Wine Company. There were so many Rosés that I was FORCED to narrow my choices.  A good problem to have, but after a while, my pallet was on overload.  I’m not ashamed to say that after 9 or 10 Rosé samples, I have a difficult time discerning one that is akin to “ripe strawberry” from one that is simply “strawberry-like”. I could be explaining one of a thousand different Rosés.  I don’t want my head to hurt by _thinking_ about wine, dammit!

What I do know is if you are [still] hesitant to creep over to the pink side, this is one for you to test the waters. It is bright, full of fresh strawberry flavor; also, it’s dry, yet quenches that Summer thirst. Again, pink wine is NOT, I repeat NOT the White Zin from the 80s! It’s delicious and super drinkable alone, or even better, it pairs with just about everything.

Vicentini Agostine Soave

Cost: Average price $13

Where buy now: Byerly’s Ridgedale, North Loop Wines & Spirits

Grapes: 80% Garganega, 20% Tebbiano di Soave

Region: Veneto, Italy

Vintage: 2010

Vicentini Agostine Soave

Maybe it’s because I’m buzzed as I write this, but I cannot stop saying “Soave” [SWAH-vay] like that douche bag one-hit wonder, Gerardo (you’re welcome). I know when I tell people to try a Soave, they start singing, “Rico Suave”. Perhaps that’s simply indicative of my friends. [*sigh*] Fortunately, the white of the week couldn’t be further from that level of d’baggery.

Regardless of any mixing of vinegar and water, you need to know more about this wine!

Soave is an Italian white wine that hails from the Veneto Region of Italy, near Verona. The East side of the top of the boot, close to the Adriatic Sea. Soave is made predominantly from a grape called Garganega [gar-GAH-nay-gah]. While not a well known white, it is universally pleasing.

I enjoy Soave in the Spring/Summer months, especially with grilled shrimp and other whitefish, like tilapia. Think about it: this wine hails from an area close to the Adriatic sea, so it pairs well with seafood. That is also a great rule-of-thumb, to pair wine with foods typical of that same region. Similar to the Gavi, I also enjoy this wine with pesto. In fact, I should probably do the “Pepsi Challenge” with both Gavi and Soave with my homemade pesto and pasta.

Truthfully, I think my favorite Soave is by Inama, Soave Classico. This wine now tends to hover around $20 and that is outside what I’m wanting to pay. So I asked my go-to guy Rodney for a Soave around $10, he pointed me toward this one by Vicentini Agostine [Vee-chen-TEE-nee aug-oh-STEE-nay]. This is a delicious Soave, especially for the price. I‘ll also note that I had one glass because my husband slurped it all, and he’s not a huge white wine guy.  (Of course, that’s also due to the fact that I’d moved on to a bottle of red.)

What’s not to like? It’s light, crisp and refreshing. It is unoaked, has a bit of tartness and smells of dried citrus fruit with a hint of jasmine floral qualities to it. Drink this before your meal, along with some grilled or fried calamari or a light salad with tuna fish and arugula.

Come to think of it, “Rico” and “Suave” are actually pretty good adjectives for this wine. So I guess he isn’t a total ass clown. Oh wait, yes, yes he is.