Vega Sindoa 2005 Rose Wine, Bi-Rite, $11.99

I got sucked into the world of Rose. And it’s really not a bad thing. Forget that sweet and sticky White Zinfandel from the early 90s, the one that your white-trash aunt drank to look sophisticated. The aunt that had the bad bleach job and the enamel earrings that dripped down her shoulders.

I don’t remember what it was that I drank to start the obsession. I suspect I was buying a bunch of wine and ran across something with a shelf-talker that told me to buy it. It sat around for a while. I must’ve been out of Sauvignon Blanc, or maybe was going out to a picnic with Trailsy and thought “Variety. That’d be nice.” So it came out. I don’t remember what it was, but I remember thinking “Jesus god that’s good.” Bone dry and a little tanniny but crisp. It was like white wine made out of red wine. I wanted to eat Tri-Tip with it. I don’t remember what it was.

I must’ve broken down and bought several more, ‘cause Trails (she’s the only one that puts up with the obsession) and I drank 2 bottles of it at the World Cup. Which led to much drunken dancing in Dolores Park. And another bottle one last weekend. Sometimes they’re a little thin, but I have hopes for this stuff.

I thought that first bottle was something like half Tempranillo and half Garnacha (Grenache, to you who only speak the language of the World Cup Losers). This one’s half Garnacha and half Cabernet. I have high hopes.

It’s a little sweet. The nose has faint notes of cheap ‘70s Gallo jugs, but a nice finish. A nice long finish on it, with notes of honeydew and kiwi. A tiny bit of tannins (not nearly enough in my opinion, but…). It goes much better with food. This is an easy-to-drink rose, but it’s (unfortunately) hearkening a bit too closely for my taste back to the el cheapos of the early 90s.

It went better with food. I made up my home-version of Zantes using a prebaked corn crust (thanks, Viccolo’s), a tasty bite, and some cheese. A little spicy, a little warm, a little crunchy, and the rose handled it well for a balmy night.

So this wasn’t the rose to talk about in my new obsession. It’s not bad, but neither is it anything to get excited about. There are better ones out there.