Rosé

I finally found it at my Costco – the Kirkland Rioja that so many readers have been raving about.  I’m a little late to the ball game on this one, and several readers have posted tasting notes on this wine in the comments sections of our other reviews.  And I’m thrilled to finally be able …

This is a fun find at Costco for $7.99.  It’s a nice summer bubbly, more on the dry end, perfect for before or after a meal. And it’s a much more affordable option compared to pricey Champagne, which I still love, just can’t afford all the time.  It’s nice to substitute a bottle like this or …

I’m a big fan of St Supéry wines so it was great to see a Rosé from them pop up at my Costco priced at $12.99.  If you’ve ever driven through Napa, you’ve likely seen their property on Highway 29 in Rutherford.  It’s a beautiful plot of land nestled in between a bunch of top …

I’ve been meaning to get around to trying this Costco Rose.  It’s been a reader favorite, a frequently mentioned wine across the social networks and was priced at $18.99 at my Costco, which I think is an ok price (I’ve seen it elsewhere closer to $15).  We decided to pair this on a summer day with …

By Redneck Wine Guy I’ll let you in on a little secret – wine is not my career.  Rather, I’m a sales guy who travels the globe selling my wares hoping that the next commission check will be enough to buy a case-or-two of the good stuff to collect, store, and share with family and friends.    Today was an incredibly long day.  I am in Florida, and in one day traveled over 350 miles.  Upon arriving back to my hotel, the last thing I felt like doing was getting myself put together to end up sitting alone at a restaurant bar to eat most likely subpar food while drinking well-level booze and mindlessly surfing on my iPhone.  The brilliant idea of grabbing some snack foods and a bottle of wine to sit comfortably in my room was much more appealing.  Tonight I was looking for easy drinking – not cheap, just easy.  I was drawn to the Oyster Bay Pinot Noir for several reasons – it was reasonably priced at $12, it had a screw top so I did not have to buy a wine opener/borrow a wine opener from the hotel, and there are some “hella good” (that is a Southern colloquial phrase shorting the expression “Hell of a Good”) wines coming out of New Zealand.  It was worth a shot.

In color, this wine is light….like, a tad bit darker than a Rosé.  The legs are quick – if it was a woman, she would run a lot faster than a courting man could chase her.  The nose is very floral, and hints of ripe berries, vanilla, and a tad bit of spice.  This wine drinks young, and only opens slightly over time.  Upon first taste, this wine needs a bit of time to hang out.  This wine is 13.5% alcohol and rather unfortunately I think the taste of alcohol is too pronounced and slightly acidic.  The resounding profile I kept going back to time-and-time again was strawberry.  Abita Brewing Company out of Abita Springs, Louisiana makes a phenomenal seasonal lager called “Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager.”   There are a lot of parallels in my opinion to this wine and that beer.  The finish is moderate – you will not forget it after first sip, but it will not linger long into the night.  Absolutely a good buy at the price point.

Redneck Wine Guy Rating: 88 Points

Winery: Oyster Bay Vineyards

Varietal(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2011

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand