Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence Rosé 2010

i was fortunate to try a rosé that was to my liking at my local wine store. this one sells for the nice price of $11 and is sourced from 5 different grape varieties; grenache, cinsault, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and mourvedre. it has a beautiful salmon pink color and has a nose of citrus and spice. the palate is loaded with raspberry, strawberry and a little melon and finishes with mineral and pepper notes. good complexity that appeals to a red wine lover like myself. definitely works as a warm weather quencher but try it with asian food or that friday night pizza.

Parducci Mendocino County Petite Sirah 2007

this is my 500th blog entry and i went to a trusted winemaker for a really nice red at a good price. parducci has a nice portfolio of wines. this one is no exception. the nose is loaded with cherry and blackberry, as well as some nice spice notes. the palate is big, bold and loaded with tannins so decanting is definitely needed. the flavors of blackberry, black cherry, spicy black pepper and some nice dark chocolate. this is a great food wine. try it with a grilled steak or hearty stew. we enjoyed this with a chicken/mushroom with vegetables and rice and it worked very well. sells for about $10-15 depending on where you are. (more expensive here in new york unfortunately)

Delle Venezie Giovello Pinot Grigio 2010

this white is another possible patio pounder. selling for about $10, it is very light bodied. the nose has some peach and floral notes, along with a little citrus. the palate is very light, with lemon and mineral flavors and maybe a little floral there too. i was not overly impressed with this one because it was so light on the palate that it left me wanting more. if you are looking for a white wine that is very subtle, give this one a try and let me know what you think.

Saurus Pinot Noir 2007

i think this is the first pinot noir i have tried from patagonia, argentina. never thought i would be talking about a pinot from argentina, and really liking it. the nose has some nice vanilla and berry aromas, along with just a subtle hint of earth. the palate is a nice, light mixture of cherry and floral violet notes. a little earth and some slightly spicy flavor in the finish rounds out this subtle beauty. a nice price of $17 on this one makes it a worthwhile wine to try. excellent wine for salmon (a go to with most pinot noir) or chicken in mushroom sauce.

Werewolf Pinot Grigio 2009

never thought i would be writing about a wine called werewolf. this one comes to us from romania of all places, and sells for the nice price of $7. the question is, does it have a bite? the nose is not very big, with nice pear and citrus aromas. a little mineral in there too. the palate has pears and citrus (lemon), some nice, slightly effervescent qualities, and low acidity. good everyday summer patio pounder. i was pleasantly surprised with this one. summer salads and light fish dishes for this one.

Brazin Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2008

i really like a good, chewy zinfandel. this one from lodi california is right in my wheel house. selling for about $16, brazin is well worth a try. the nose has lots of black cherry and blackberry, some nice spice and vanilla and some mocha. the palate is very big and bold, with blackberry, plum and cocoa. there is some nice black pepper and some subtle earth notes. this is a chewy, full bodied zin with a long finish that begs for spicy red sauce pasta or a good steak. at this price it is very hard to pass up.

Chateau du Rouët Cotes de Provence Rosé 2010

a good rosé is always a difficult thing for me to find. it isn't a varietal that i am too crazy about so when i find one i like, i get pretty excited about it. i tried this french rosé at my local wine merchant recently and liked it well enough to purchase a bottle. it is a blend of 60% grenache and 40% syrah and maybe that had a great deal to do with why i liked it so much. the wine sells in the $10-12 range and has a nose of rose petals, red berries and a little dusty spice. the palate has lots of strawberry, some earthy herbal notes and some spice. the finish has some good floral notes. this should be slightly chilled, but not as much as you would a white. it needs a little more warmth to bring out some of the earthy floral flavors. good sipper on a warm day.

Roc des Moulins White Bordeaux 2008

i have been on a bit of a white wine roll lately. this white bordeaux is right in line with all the other very nice warm weather patio pounders i have tried recently. you should definitely look for some of these if you enjoy a refreshing white wine on a warm day. the white bordeaux's are excellent and usually you can find a good variety at friendly prices. this one sells for about $10 and has a nose of melon, citrus and some earth. the palate has some nice tropical fruit, melon, and the old world nice earthiness that is so appealing to me. great all by itself or with some nice hard cheeses or a seafood salad. cheers!

Guenoc Lake County Sauvignon Blanc 2009

more warm weather patio pounders? with temperatures getting into the 70's, i say yes! this lovely white comes from langtry estate in california, north of napa. the wine is 100% sauvignon blanc. the nose has some nice tropical fruit and citrus, as well as some mineral aromas. the palate is loaded with pineapple and guava. there is also some grassy flavors and some nice earthy, mineral notes. the wine is fresh and crisp and is perfect for sipping while enjoying warm weather and the foods that go with it, like salads and light seafood. sells for about $10.

Oak Knoll Chardonnay 2007

more warm weather food wine with this unoaked chardonnay from the willamette valley in oregon. i love a good unoaked chard. it really shows off the flavor of the grape. this wine is a very nice expression of the chardonnay grape with a nose of melon, apple and pear. the palate has lots of green apple and melon flavors, some mineral and slightly earthy notes, and a clean, crisp finish. excellent with chicken or seafood. sells for about $16 in the ny area. look for it online direct from the winery for about $10. well worth the price.