Donkey & Goat Isabel's Cuvee Grenache Rosé Mendocino

Kudos to my friend Richard for introducing me to this wine - in fact to the producer in general. What a fun, funky line-up of wines they have, and all made by hand. As in no machinery involved. As in foot-stomping the grapes like Lucille Ball. The first thing you notice about the wine, aside from it's maraschino cherry color, is that there is about a half-inch of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. The wine is aged on its lees - unusual for rosé - and clearly not fined or filtered. This is just about unheard of. And I LOVE it.

The aromas are all framed within the context of this sweet yeastiness. There is fruit, but it's like an angel food cake with strawberries and cherries poured over the top. But the fun really starts in the mouth. There is a hint of spritz - either from the screw cap or made that way intentionally - which, in combination with fresh acidity, makes the wine vibrant on the palate. There is a tiny bit of residual sugar, too. Not enough to make the wine taste sweet, just juicy with cherry and red berry fruits. There's also a little tannin, adding texture to the mouthfeel that is not at all unwelcome.

I honestly cannot find anything about this wine that I don't like. Except the fact that I only have one bottle, and only 4 places in the state carry it.

Vintage: 2010
Region: Mendocino, California
Grape: Grenache
Price: $20

2005 Tenute Sella & Mosca Carignano del Sulcis Terre Rare

Carignan is not a grape with a great reputation. It is a frequent blending agent in the south of France, and in the past has contributed to Europe's "wine lake" issue. However, it has been grown on the Italian Island of Sardinia for a vey long time, and there has its very own DOC, Carignano del Sulcis. Although Italy's DOC system is not without its faults, and some wines that many people feel unworthy have been given DOC and even DOCG status, I live in hope of finding good wines in unexpected places.

The wine is a deep garnet in the glass, with significant browning towards the edges, due to bottle age. It is quite clear, indicating to me that it was fined and filtered before bottling. The aromas aren't robust, but I do get some hints of molasses, prune, and something almost cheesy. Like cheese rind. Not exactly fresh in the nose.....

The palate doesn't tell much of a different story. Maybe it's over the hill and has started to break down, but this is not a tasty wine at all. The first impression I get is a sunburnt fruit flavor that borders on metallic - like a tarnished silver spoon in your mouth. It improves somewhat with acquaintance, with some black pepper and stewed cherries coming out. The acid is good and the tannins are smooth, though the alcohol is a bit high. Unfortunately, through it all, that silver spoon taste remains, hanging on the finish long after the fruit has dissipated. Apparently Carignan can deserve its reputation sometimes....

Thumbs down.

Vintage: 2005
Region: Sardinia, Italy
Grape: Carignan
Price: $16