Friday Sips

We're tasting Rose, Rioja & more.
We love referrals and new faces at Friday Sips and we're in a gift-giving mood!

A different take than normal today. The incentive is for y'all is to bring 2 of your wine-loving friends, taste with us, then have them sign up for our list. In turn, we'll give you a gift from one of our famed treat-boxes. These treat boxes are infinitely more attractive and tastier than Dujac, The Cellar Door Bichon's treat box!

With the sun shining today, inevitably I'm going to receive e-mails from a few current friends stating that they're going to be on a float-tube with a fishing pole on the Deschutes or something of the sort, so we're including you, too! Drop an e-mail referring 2 of your wine-loving friends (CC them on the e-mail to let them know what's what) and we'll make you eligible for a drawing of something large-scaled!!

At this moment in California the volcanic eruption occuring in the wine scene are producers who are rebelling against the trend of the super-ripe and overtly alcoholic, with a preference to do wines delivering balance, depth and ample intensity from terrific sites.

Folk Machine flies under the Hobo Wine Company flag and is the brainchild of Kenny Likitprakong. Parts & Labor is an offering that is from 3 varietals and 3 vineyards and is inspired by Cotes-du-Rhone. 13.4% alcohol, 35% Carignan from 100 year old vines in the Redwood Valley, 20% Grenache from the McDowell Valley and 45% Syrah from the Potter Valley. Bringing together pleasant impact without being burdensome, this flavorful and aromatically-pleasing red puts forth alluring aromatics that go on for days. The texture is savory with fine and fresh palate-coverage that teems with notes of blackberry, wild strawberry, bramble, anise and roasted earth. The epitome of a Cali-bistro wine, this yummy value will go with pretty much anything you want to toss onto the grill.

Instantaneously, one can then truly see why Bandol is one of the premier areas for top-drawer rose. 62% Mourvèdre, 18% Cinsault, 16% Grenache but the secret to preserving precision and poise for this pink wine is the addition of 2 white grapes, 4% Ugni Blanc and Bourboulenc. As usual Bastide Blanche's Bandol Rosé is killer pink juice, and we are GIDDY to be able to sell it for under 20 bucks!! The Bronzo brothers bought La Bastide Blanche in the 70s and in the last 30+ years they have brought their Domaine into prominence and have become the one of THE pre-eminent producers of Bandol Rouge and Rose. They are also OUTSTANDING values, especially given the fact that Tempier's Rose sells for up to $40 these days and quite honestly, hasn't been in Bastide's league for the last 6 vintages running.

Exuberant and complex tones of hawthorn, berry, herbes de provence, lemon and strawberry saunter into a texture that is mouthcoating and fleshy, yet brisk and full of vivacity. Insane dimension and depth shine on the long, long finish. One can drink this by itself but it really struts itself with food. Wash down this tsunami of a pink wine with seafood stew, grilled whole chickens with fresh herbs, or crusty bread and an assortment of olives. ALSO, one doesn't have to just drink Rose for summer, this rosé is substantial and complex enough for fall, winter and spring-time!

2013 is the vintage of the century for Rose for the South of France!!! Well actually not, we were just trying to catch your attention. Domaine de Fontsainte is a top-level Corbieres producer and as soon as this wine arrives, it seemingly is an announcement of summer. The newest arrival of the Gris de Gris is made up of 70% Grenache Gris and Grenache Noir, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Carignan, 10% Cinsault and is as good as ever!

Fresh notes of strawberry and red currant along with scents of quinine, Mediterranean herbs blitz from the glass and carries over to a texture that really makes your mouth water, with fine fruit, silky texture, and thirst quenching acidity. This goes down way too easily, so stock up, because nothing is better on a hot day (it's coming this weekend!) then a bottle of the pink stuff!

By now Rioja aficionados know the brilliance of Muga, one of the leading producers of Spain's most famed growing region. This modern-traditionalist makes wines in both styles and this offering is firmly in the traditional camp.

Possessing a fabulous nose that will certainly make you pause and take notice, this precise, detailed, very poised Rioja delivers up scents of mocha, red cherry, prominent savory/sweet herbs. In the mouth, its classic old-school techniques penetrate deeply and show nice movement. Dry texture that is very silky; dusty, oaky cocoa tones with a drawn-out, minerally, rather sultry finish. This wine has nice accessibility now but will easily age 8-10 years if not more. If you need score reassurance, this one does have 92 points from the conservative-scoring International Wine Cellar.