Another month has gone by. I think people are finally settling into this quarantine/social distancing zone. I’ve started seeing many more people observing the distancing rules and wearing masks when in public. As summer creeps in though, it’s starting to feel like more of a loss. The weather is nice and there’s an increased feeling of the need to be outside and around others. It’s a good thing there is good wine to distract us with! I’m hoping most everyone has a place they can enjoy the outdoors though.
Kirkland Signature 2019 Rosé – Rating 4/5
This wine was from Côtes de Provence, France and sampled on May 8, 2020. I discovered this wine during a recent Costco trip, and I had a hard time not popping it open immediately. I was very excited to try a Kirkland Signature Rosé after having such a great experience with the Champagne during the previous month. It was a lovely pale pink color, but not so pale that I would consider it salmon. Bright and juicy scents of strawberry and lychee practically leapt from the glass and got my mouth to watering. The first taste brought full on grapefruit. As it sat, the taste mellowed a bit and led into different citrusy flavors. It tasted just the right amount of sweet and was lower in acidity than expected. It had a cleansing effect that worked with the fatty barbecue by helping to wash it down. This is a perfect summer barbecue wine!
Patterson Cellars 2017 Syrah – Rating 3/5
This wine was from Yakima Valley in Washington and sampled on May 16, 2020. This wine was part of our club shipment for Spring. My husband is a big Syrah fan, so when he wanted to grill steaks, I knew I wanted to bust this one out for him. We were listening to “Ryland” by Jillian Lage. It was deeply purple in the glass. There were a surprising amount of scents distinguishable. They included blueberry, slate, clove, and orange zest. The first taste resulted in a smoky meatiness mixed with huckleberries. It had a hefty body and was very high in tannins. The finish was on the long side. If you want to see a great representation of wine legs, then this is definitely a good wine for that. As the wine breathed, it released even more berry flavors along with red clay. This wine turned out to be just “good” with a rating of 3/5. Not our favorite Syrah of all time, but still solid.
Chai de Bordes 2019 White Bordeaux Blend – Rating 4.5/5
This wine was from Bordeaux, France and sampled on May 20, 2020. White Bordeaux blends are bit rarer that red blends, so I was excited to find one in my Wine Awesomeness box for the month. I was listening to “Sweet Melodies” by Lizzy Land. The pale straw color in the glass shown true to the 80% Sauvignon Blanc that made up the wine. The other part being 20% Semillon. Scents of white grapefruit, green apple, and grass drifted into my nostrils. I thought it really might make a nice blend of scents for a candle. The taste brought just the right amount of acidity. It almost felt like a crispness, similar to taking the first bite out of an apple. It was quickly followed by honeysuckle sweetness and floral hints. With a medium body and low tannins, this made a great pairing with the chicken and red pepper pecan sauce. It will make a great white for summer!