Rose

Aug 31 2014

Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose

I should have been scared. By two things.

In the case of this wine, the Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose, I should have known that something that is “Vinho Verde” and “Rose” might suffer from an identity crisis. Plus, “Delightfully Refreshing,” as it says on the bottle, is code. Usually, code for “something I won’t like.” I still want to talk my way into Portugal someday to figure out what the story is here…but, til then, let’s get to the review.

Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose Review

First of all, we’re using the PC and can’t find the right key to add the accent mark. So sorry about that. Plus, the whole SEO thing might mean that we need to keep the accent mark out of this post. Anyhow…

Taste

Tasted like it wanted to be a champagne, but an average one at that. Tiny amount of bubbles – why does it pale in comparison to that other rose? No clue. (“That other rose” is the one from Trader Joe’s that we reviewed here.)

We expected – with the weather and the barbecued chicken – to find this to be the perfect thing yesterday. IT WASN’T. So disappointing.

Profile

As opposed to the Vinho Rose from TJ’s, this is “Vinho Verde Rose,” which refers to the region of Portugal where it’s grown. Learn more here and, Wines of Portugal folks, consider this our audition – we would love to come visit.

10.5% ABV.

Value

Only $4.99 at Aldi. Not a…well, not a BAD buy. But we’ve had much better from Aldi.

Metasip Grade: B-

We can’t pull the trigger on a higher grade. We are anxious to try more Portuguese wine – again, there’s really good stuff made there, and not just Port and Vinho Verde (the wine, not the region).

Jul 02 2014

Espiral Vinho Rosé

Sometimes, in the sober light of day, you change your mind. Other times, you stick to your first impression.

In the case of the Espiral Vinho Rosé, which I said on Facebook was worthy of an “A” rating, there’s no way I’m changing my mind. This, my friends, is a darn good wine value – and, while in a different class and category (IMHO) than the Sofia reviewed here last week, actually earns more points. Extra credit, if you will.

The fact that it’s from Portugal adds to the allure – there’s got to be more to Portugal than Port and Vinho Verde, eh?

I found this at Trader Joe’s. I paid $5.99. I will buy more.

[Editor’s Note: If you don’t have Trader Joe’s near you, maybe try Aldi – well, not for THIS wine, but for other great values.]

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To the review!

Espiral Vinho Rosé Review

Taste

I don’t want to be one of THOSE wine bloggers, the ones who say “like summer in a glass!”

And, to be fair, this is closer to a bubbly to me – there’s a hint of effervescence.

Floral nose, a little bit of fruit but not at all sweet – like a dry champagne, y’all – and there’s a hint of peach. Clean finish. Food agnostic – I had barbecued chickent with it but could very well have had it solo. Because it’s like summer in a glass!

(I couldn’t resist.)

Espiral has done some really solid work – and this wine has been around awhile, it appears; check out this blog from 2012: The Winegetter. And they also do the Vinho Verde thing – which has to happen because, well, Portugal.

Profile

10% ABV. From Vina Nova de Gaia, Portugal. Learn more about that place right here.

Value

Where this wine EARNS its grade.

I don’t mean to get off on a rant here – but didja know there’s a site called Beergraphs and they have a metric called “Beers Above Replacement?” Or something like that.

The general concept – replicating that of baseball’s Wins Above Replacement – if you removed the beer and replaced it with something average, how much better (or worse) than average is this one?

Where they lose me is whether there’s actual Moneyball-esque value for what you’re paying for the replacement – like if movie ratings were based on dollars you should pay, not whether the movie is 4-stars.

So, this wine is better – MUCH better – than an average Rosé. And I paid $5.99, which makes it a tremendous value.

Metasip Grade: A

Not a minus. This is a solid, well-earned, well-deserved A.

Jun 25 2014

Sofia 2013 Rosé

Ready for a wine to become your go-to for summer drinkin’? Why yes, Sofia strikes again with her 2013 Rosé.

Sofia 2013 Rose — Francis’ Daughter, which you of course knew.

If you don’t know about Sofia, the person, a quick primer on the maker of the Sofia 2013 Rosé. Sofia is Sofia Coppola. Visiting the Wikipedia page tells me that she’s no longer married to Spike Jonze, which is a piece of pop culture that eluded me. This nugget must have been obscured by the Kardashians.

Digressions aside, the Coppola family – scion Francis also holds his own in the film industry – knows its wine, too, as Dad bought the former Chateau Souverain estate in Geyserville and started making wine.

When we write the sidebar piece about visiting Napa Valley, it will include this tip: visit just one of the big boys, such as Coppola, just to hear from the big boys, get the tour, understand the process, all that stuff. Then spend the rest of your time at places recommended by locals, friends, etc.

Sofia has been at it for awhile, and even got a 90-point rating from Wine Enthusiast for the 2011 vintage. How will the 2013 stack up, at least according to this reporter? Let’s get to the review.

Sofia 2013 Rosé Review

Taste

FACT: Americans don’t drink as much rosé as French. By insanely wide margins, as referenced in these charts from the French. Probably because of the following if/then logic issue that, I’ll admit, crosses my mind all the time:

IF White Zinfandel is pink AND White Zinfandel is swill, THEN all pink wine is swill.

In fact, it wasn’t til some other wine lovers hooked us up with some really really good rosé that my own thinking started to change.

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This, per the website, is a Rosé of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Grenache. (Ya know, reading that website makes me think that I should be capitalizing the word “Rosé.” Because it’s a variety of grape. Also, that stands out and I can then show off that I figured out how to do the accent aigu in Francais. (Now, about that cedille.)

This is not sweet. I don’t do sweet wine. I want something with a great nose – this has it – and some earthiness to it – this has that, too, probably the Pinot. Can’t taste like chalk (which I get from a lot of Chardonnays, personally; a surefire sign that I’m not spending enough on my Chardonnays).

Quintessential “summer drinkin’ wine.” An absolute delight – enjoyed some at the block party this past weekend and, well, it didn’t disappoint. Plus, stands up to lighter stuff you’re eating – which, in my case, was a salad. Not a steak wine at all, but that’s okay, because block parties aren’t about steak.

Profile

Syrah. Pinot. Grenache. Not sure how much of each. ABV of 12.8%

Value

$12.99 at Costco. SCORE! Website says you can pay $14 or so with a membership. My last time visiting Coppola’s Estate (the winery, not Frank’s house; don’t call him “Frank,” either) the person in the tasting room told me: “Don’t buy our wines here. You can get them cheaper anywhere else.” Smart marketing, though, to mark their own stuff up so it’s got some caché from buying it there. Or not.

EDITOR’S NOTE: On my most recent trip to Costco, this was $9.99, not $12.99. May not have been $12.99 at all – though we’ve had friends in other states tell us $12.99 was their price.

Metasip Grade: A-

Why doesn’t this get an A if it’s an “absolute delight?”

My thinking is this: at $12.99, without a lot to compare it with, I’m not sure it qualifies on all the scales for an A. It’s a great value – if you buy it at Costco. And it drinks more expensively. BUT, it’s not the right mix of Taste, Profile, and Value to justify an A.