Thursday, April 28, 2011

First Batch of 2010 Roses. Or What It Would Look Like If I Wrote A "Wine Blog"



2009 was kind of a retailers dream vintage for French wines. The press went crazy for the riper fruit, bigger bodies and softer acids, in short the wines from much of France in 2009 were a little more suited to the California or new world palate. Not a problem, the wines are delicious but as I started tasting the 2010 Roses from France I was thrilled to find the wines a bit more typical. 2010 appears to be another ripe vintage, just not as ripe so the wines while brimming with bright and generous fruit are just a little more restrained in the weight department and the acidity is just a bit higher. Been loving the more noticeable minerality and almost crunchy snap from this vintage and cannot wait to keep tasting more!



2010 Chateau de Campuget Costieres de Nimes $9.99
This ultra crisp Rose is a blend of Syrah and Grenache, the Syrah giving the wine a nice depth and the Grenache providing lots of spicy, juicy fruit. Light and racy on the palate with a clean and refreshing finish.



2010 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Vin de Pays de l’Herault $9.99
One of the first of the Roses to arrive and the first three cases we ordered flew out the door. Fans of last year’s offering will delight in finding that the 2010 is packed with just as much lovely flavor; all that racy fruit and mineral that we adored about the 2009 but the 2010 is just a little lighter in weight and has just a bit more snap.



2010 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres Gris de Gris $11.99
One of the best vintages is recent memory for this tried and true estate. Vibrant berry flavors, amazing precision and leaves your palate vibrating with zingy acidity.



2010 Andrieux & Fils Cuvee Victoria Cotes de Provence $13.99
One of the deeper and more meaty of this year’s Roses so far. Dark red fruit, hints of banana, nice and full on the palate, almost round but not too. A go to wine for grilled steaks or strongly seasoned chicken dishes.




2010 Domaine Figueirasse Vin des Sables Gris de Gris $11.99
Something slightly grassy in the nose, grassy and reminiscent of watermelon rind. The palate is ripe berries and faint chalky minerality. Round and fleshy but crisp and dry on the lip smacking finish.



2010 Saint Roche Cotes du Provence $12.99
Not sure if you feel like a red or a white? Unable to decide if you want red or more green notes? Well we’ve got the wine for you. Gentle and herby on the nose with a soft powdery like floral note. The palate is crisp, bright, raging with tangy fruit and the finish is super clean.



2010 Le Cengle Cotes de Provence $12.99
Brand new to The Wine Country this charming wine has already stolen hearts around here. Very tropical aromatics, guava, wild flowers, herbs with a splash of zingy citrus. Explosive on the palate the wine pretty much grabs hold of your taste buds and refuses to let go. A show stopping Rose that we could not be more thrilled to add to our extensive collection.

Happy Now?!

Got two emails this morning, one from my son that flooded my heart with joy, (he's doing so well, last final on Friday, preforming in plays which he seems to love and got associate of the month at work...so proud) and the other was in the email for this blog.
Started out nice enough, the person seemed to be concerned that I had been having a rough time the past couple months and then the letter took a turn.

"You know people don't read wine blogs to listen to the blogger complain about their life and it is very annoying when that blogger happens to be in the wine business. Tough job. I think you would be better served to just stick to writing about wine on your wine blog because that's what we come here for"......

Really? Well then, don't come here. Hate to sound like a bitch, okay that's a lie, doesn't bother me one bit. This is MY blog and can and will write about whatever I wish. I do write about wine, not as often or the same way as the hundreds or thousands, how many are there now.....of others and you know what, I fucking dig it that way.

Above is part of what I sent for the May newsletter for The Wine Country. It's what I do all the time and while I still love it, it is not what I wish to come here and write. After a day of my "Tough job" I rather like having a place to come and just talk, if you don't like it then might I recommend you bugger off? And I would pair any one of the aforementioned Roses, they are perfect with buggering, and for a musical selection, Ray Charles, Hit the Road Jack.
Salute.

13 comments:

Thomas said...

Laughing aloud here...

This joker sends you an email to tell you what a wine blog is supposed to be. Did he or she mention also that a wine blog should be free information about wine so that he or she can go out and buy what he or she is told is good enough to buy?

The operative word is always "free," and for that, these people have the nerve to tell you what you should be writing.

Some people do indeed need to get a life of their own.

Alfonso Cevola said...

friend and colleague Jeff Siegel just posted an interesting piece on wine bloggers, sure to irritate HMW

the researcher Evelyne Resnick, has some strong ideas about wine blogs that will make the most difference.

Check it out


In the meantime - don't stop doing what you are doing. F-bombs and all.

Romes said...

Hmmm, I'm thrilled and mystified at the same time! I have been hankering for some Rose and so seeing these lovely wines is so making my day...

But, hello, if this person has been coming to your blog to read about wine for any length of time, well then I would suspect he/she should know that Samantha Sans Dosage is not like your normal wine blogs (and thank god for that)! What a Douche is what we would say here at the Roma house!

Hope you are having a good day anyways - and thanks for making my day. I will be texting you with my order - just can't get this quality of Rose here in CO.

Samantha Dugan said...

Thomas,
So fucking ridiculous. Chick seriously needs to get a life. Just ignore me while I sputter along writing shit you don't care about, I'm fine with that. The more I think about it the more laughable it is to me....

Romes,
I will be awaiting your text girlie and I have some others that came in after I sent this to Randy so there is plenty of Rose to chose from. As for the hater, well she is just that and she has the same option as everyone else....you know, because I'm not like a news anchor on the only station in the world....DON'T READ ME. She should just go back to her twitter feeds and leave me to do as I am gonna.

Anonymous said...

Have to say, that last pairing recommendation -with music accompaniment to boot!- is brilliantly inspired. As most your suggestions are.

Michele | Cooking At Home said...

I love to come here to get a full dose of Samantha, not just wine recommendations--although I just printed off your list of Roses. Looking forward to finding some of them and enjoying.

John M. Kelly said...

Do we know who this person was? Whom I suspect? And I'll take my answer off the air...

BTW I took some time to bust Tom Johnson's bawls a little over at his blog re: his rose obsession. Some people... ;-)

Samantha Dugan said...

Another Day of Crazy,
Funny thing is this nitwit is likely the kind of "wine knower" that would pair wine and music.

Michele,
I was hoping so. Not that I don't like talking and writing about wine, shit I do it for a living and I do it here from time to time but c'mon, this is a personal blog and I will and want, to share other things as well. If you make wine your whole life....well, then you are doing it wrong. Thank you for having my back and more importantly, for wanting to come here for doses of me....they might make a cream for that.

webb,
You know, it was you I thought about first when I got that email. I just thought, "well how much would webb love it if I was just another wine blogger?" so your visits, comments and support have touched me for sure lady. Thanks!

John,
Does it matter who? I think the fact that anyone would take the time to do that goes a very long way in showing just how puny and pathetic their life is. Dude, there are hundreds of wine blogs I don't like...I do as most do, ignore them. Now I'm gonna go see what you cracked on Tom about. I know he hates Rose and I am going to see him in like two weeks....might have to bring and make him drink some!

Joe said...

Please don't take the high road and tell me who sent you that (especially if I know who it is) so I can go make fun of her crappy blog/business/facebook page/etc.

Samantha Dugan said...

Joe My Dear,
She isn't worth it. Even posting this was giving her too much so I shall not give her one more ounce of thought....nor should you. Normally I would feel sorry for someone that spends their time trashing others and acting as if they are an authority but, well this one is just too bitchy for me to feel anything but "whatever" for her. Thanks for trying to have my back though darlin'

Joe said...

shit. i had some good ideas.

Samantha Dugan said...

Joe,
Hahaha you are too sweet!

Unknown said...

just like this blog.