Washington Hills Late Harvest Reisling, Washington State

Cuvee Les Maulins Bales Domaine Fournier Par Celestine Blondeau, France

LOBSTER REEF SAUVIGNON BLANC MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND

By: Ed "The Wine Guy"

Think lobster, think Maine. But in this case think the southerly island of New Zealand, the Marlborough coastline, inhabited by a species of brightly-colored Rock Lobster. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc continues to be one of Harney's top categories of wine; its aroma and taste is unique in the wine world. The cool climate, extended sunshine hours, and soil (terroir) produces an intensely aromatic, fruit-forward, light, crisp, dry, fruity - but not sweet - wine, with flavors and aromas of citrus (commonly grapefruit), lemongrass, and passion fruit (hints of pear-strawberry), with an herbal (tomato stalks?) and mineral component. Very complex and stunning! Chile, the U.S., and France also produce notable Sauvignon Blanc, but the aromas and flavors are much more subdued than those of New Zealand. Even a novice to the wine world, in a blind tasting of several worldwide Sauvignon Blanc, can tell the difference. Taste and see!

AIME ROQUESANTE COTES DE PROVENCE ROSE' FRANCE

By:  Ed “The Wine Guy:

Gone are the days of sickenly-sweet, heavy Rose' wines. Now, the Rose' of choice is dry (not sweet), light, with hints of fruit (strawberry, peach, melon, citrus), and refreshingly crisp and clean (due to its acidity). Aime Roquesante is one of these wines which have become known as the Provence style of Rose'. Just a few years ago, Harney's had about a dozen Rose' wines to satisfy the palates of our clients; now we have at least three times that number, the majority of which are of the Provence style. Aime Roquesante is a blend of the varietals: Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah; it is salmon in color, with a creamy mouthfeel. I suggest serving it as an aperitif, as an accompaniment to salads, to chicken, fish, and seafood dishes, and to clambakes. Taste and see!