Four Rose and none from France (or Spain)

I have to admit that I really do like Rose. For me there is nothing better than sitting on my deck after a long, hot day and enjoying a glass of cool rose with some fresh made gazpacho or some grilled bread & veggies from the garden. These wines all share a refreshing, dry, light style that is quite pleasant and definitely has its place on the wine drinking calendar. Here are four wines that are new to me this season; a couple of them are the US debut vintages, in fact.

Planeta IGT Rose Sicily, 2008 - from Sicilia and made from syrah, this wine hails from the Island of Sambuca. I enjoyed this wine because it does not have that bubble-gum aspect that some rose can have. This is a very serious wine with great acidity and a beautiful spicy note that separates this from the crowded rose category. About $16 if you can find it, but well worth the money in my opine!

La Scolca VdT Rosato Rosa Chiara Piedmont, 2007 - a year older than the Planeta, but holding quite well. This wine is light and dry with delicate floral notes - yes some rose petal - but also some raspberry and watermelon, too. Easy on the palate and definitely for lighter fair. Made with almost all cortese (the grape for Gavi) and a touch of pinot noir for color. I am curious about the 08, which is also available on the market. ($14)

Ken Forrester Rose Petit Stellenbosch, 2008 - about $9 and made from almost equal portions of cab franc and merlot; this wine is a bit darker in color than the first two, but also a bit more aromatics with livelier fruit on the nose (raspberries, strawberries, etc) - dry and zippy on the palate with a bit more weight - mouth-watering juicy style. Really fresh and clean - quite good, and a bargain, too.

Casa Silva Rose of Syrah-Carmenere D.O. Colchagua, 2008 - deepest and brightest in color of all of these - almost the color of cranberry juice - lovely raspberry fruit on the nose, weighty and rich on the palate, this wine is almost the weight and feel of a red wine with the experience almost of some tannin. They blend about 60% syrah with 35% carmenere and just a touch of sauvignon gris to add dome fruit balance and lighter notes. This is quite a wine - about $13.