This is another bargain grocery store wine. It's also a bit of a mystery; except for the winemaker's own Website, this is, apparently, a nonexistent wine. The 2005 Rose is easy to find, as are a number of positive reviews; the 2006? Not so much. That's a little surprising; the Gordon Brothers and their winery are extremely well-respected.; I had their Kamiak wines in Los Angeles, where they were presented at a catered dinner for a "cause" and selected by the host as premium domestic wines. I remember him telling me conspiratorially (I was staff, not an attendee) that he totally scored on the purchase, and had even bought two cases for himself. I'm going to go out on a limb here (remember, I don't actually know anything about wine; I'm learning by drinking reading) and speculate that the fact that they only makde 430 cases has something to do with it.

The Gordon Brother's 2006 Rosé is a lovely rose color—the Cabernet-Sauvignon / Merlot blend that went into the wine shows, quite clearly in the color, and in the aroma. It's full-bodied enough to stand up to a pretty robust meal, too. It's a nice blend of the characteristics of both the Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Merlot, with a noticeable fruit bouquet, and some tannin. It's more dry than sweet (ABV 13.7%). The Gordon Brothers' Web site describes the wine as "Rich fragrances of strawberry leap from the glass to greet the nose. Flavors are strawberry with hints of salmonberry. " That's actually both sensible, in terms of English, and I think, very accurate. I love, by the way, that they compared a Washington wine to salmonberries, a Pacific Northwest native fruit.

I'm rather intrigued by the Gordon Brothers. It's very much still a family winery in Pasco, Washington. Family wineries in Washington are becoming a little sparse of late. I'm rather intensely wishing I could drive to Woodinville, Washington where their tasting room is located, for the Gordon Brothers' Winery Crush weekend the last weekend of September (among their specials: Rose' 2006: 30% off bottles, 40% off cases). Maybe next year. I note that this is an interesting article, and that I very much like the attitude towards Washington wine that I see expressed by the winery in interviews, and on their Web site.

And yes, I'm going to go back to pick up a few more bottles; I'd be willing to pay more than $3.99, easily, for this wine.