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A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese
By Kori ~ June 30th, 2011.
Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese from the Columbia Valley of Washington State.
Our selection criteria include:
- A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
- A price tag of <=$15
- Must be widely available
Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard founded Barnard Griffin Winery, located in Richland, Washington, in 1983. Rob moved to Washington State in 1977 to be winemaker for Preston Wine Cellars when there were under ten wineries in the entire state. Shortly after founding Barnard Griffin, Rob left Preston and went to work for Hogue Cellars as winemaker and general manager. In 1991, Rob left Hogue to devote his full time and energy to Barnard Griffin. The current winery and tasting room were built in 1996. Barnard Griffin’s current annual production is approximately 75,000 cases. Their Rosé of Sangiovese is one of the most well-known and widely available Washington State rosés. I look forward to its release each year.
“The 2010 boasts gorgeous melon, pomegranate and cherry fruit with hints of pineapple and rose petal. Dry and flavorful with a pleasant underlying minerality. Quite food-friendly, as well as a great stand-alone wine. Stock up on this delicious Rosé for all your summer get-togethers.†–Owner/winemaker Rob Griffin
2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium bright pink in color. Nice nose with cherry, strawberry, and watermelon aromas. More red fruits as well as orange peel and strawberry Twizzlers come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Very refreshing with a long finish. Gets better the longer it is open. An excellent summer sipper.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $10.99; Available elsewhere, $10 to $13
Filed under: A Wine for Tonight, American Wine, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Rose Wine, Sangiovese, Washington State Wine, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
You are right, this is a great wine we enjoy sometimes with poultry. It is not too fruity tasty and has a nice refreshing acidity we like. Also, for the price, it is a great buy. Good recommendation!
CoffeeGuy,
Appreciate the pairing recommendation. Glad to hear you enjoy this wine, too. Cheers!
We had a bottle of this wine on Tuesday night with a dinner that was mostly salad (spinach and romaine with roasted walnuts, craisins, and avocado). We enjoyed the wine and the pairing. We thought the aroma suggested red licorice. Then yesterday I found it had gone on sale ($4 less than I paid Tuesday). I felt compelled to buy another bottle.
jdstripes,
Sounds like that was a wonderful, light summer dinner. I bet the BG Rose was great with it. It’s always a treat to find great wines at great prices. Cheers!