Rosé Tasting Results Are In!

Ok, ll be the first to admit that I used to think that drinking rosé was for sissies, but I have since evolved. Today’s rosés run the gamut, from bone dry to sickeningly sweet. We recently held a tasting to find one that the tribe could feel good about drinking – and be willing to defend should someone accuse us of liking a girlie drink.

We decided to focus on mid-priced Washington rosés, with the majority recommended by Seattle Magazine and one from a winery we recently discovered called J Bell. The line up:

– Syncline 2012 Rosé, $17.99
– Tranche 2012 Pink Pape Rosé, $15.99
– Trust 2012 Rosé Cabernet Franc, $15.99
– J Bell Cellars 2012 Pino Rosé, about $16 (Sorry, but I can’t remember the exact price.)

While we didn’t have a member of the Accessible Tribe at our tasting, the representatives from the other 3 tribes all rallied around the Tranche 2012 Pink Pape. The aroma notes that people picked up were all over the board, but honeysuckle, cantaloupe, vanilla and grass were the main descriptors.

In terms of taste, this one was great without food but really terrific with due to the wine’s acid levels. Sipping the wine alone people picked up more of grapefruit, whereas sipping with food made the experience a little more smooth and earthy.

The second runner up at the rose tasting was the Syncline. This is a dry rose that is easy to drink, although the Balanced and Developed folks liked it better with food. One Developed Tribe taster said it was “a little sour at first but has a nice honey finish.” Other comments include “tastes like sweet tarts” and “great patio wine.”

For those of you in the Accessible Tribe, and/or those of you looking for a dessert pairing, consider one of our two remaining contenders. The Trust and J Bell wines veer towards the sweeter side of the rosé spectrum, with the J Bell being way far out into candyland. If you love sweet, sugary wines this one is for you. If you are looking for something a tad more restrained then the Trust Rosé is a better bet. Interestingly, tasters likened this wine to berry cobbler, with spice reminiscent of  “Apple Jacks.” Most sippers saw Trust as a great summertime wine to drink without food.

So if you are looking for a crowdpleaser, go with the Tranche Pink Pape. If you know your guests prefer a sweeter wine, give the Trust Rosé Cab Franc a whirl. Cheers!