The Wine Idiot Reviews: Dark Horse Rosé, 2015 ($9.99)
I found myself at Ralph's wanting wine, but there was no wine on this particular Ralph's clearance rack. This is always difficult for me, for a couple reasons. First, it means I have to go pick a wine instead of just taking whatever they have, and I hate making decisions. Second, it absolutely KILLS me to see a bottle of wine they carry at TJ's for sale at Ralph's for a couple dollars more. Like, I just can't buy that bottle because I know that's two of my hard-earned dollars going straight into Ralph's profits. It irks me.
So I solved my own dilemma by picking something I've never seen at TJ's. On this particular day, it was the "Limited Release" Dark Horse Rosé. SUPER GOOD CHOICE! Patting myself on the back right now.
Yes, I tasted strawberries right away, but through a pleasant lime-y minerality. Don't get me wrong, there's a sweetness, but it flashes away in a split second and your mouth is refreshed with a tart, mineral-y, raspberry-y finish.
This is gonna sound super weird...but it kind of tastes like blood. That's probably the grossest sentence I've ever written and I'm sorry you had to read that. But it does have that sort of sweet/metallic tinge? Somehow it's also a little floral--"not like lavendar," I wrote in my notes, "more like rose-water."
Yeah, that review was all over the map, wasn't it? Don't know what to tell you. Other than this might be one of my favorite rosés of all time, notes of blood and all.
What the bottle says: "Here's to Dark Horses everywhere. Our California Limited Release Rosé boasts a refreshingly dry style that explodes with flavors of fresh red fruit, subtle minerality and a hint of floral--all racing toward a bright, crisp finish. Place your bet."
What the Wine Idiot says: I don't know why they didn't mention blood.
ABV: 13%
Who's responsible for this? "Vinted & Bottled by Dark Horse Wines, Modesto, CA"
Do I need a corkscrew? Yessir.
What do smarter people say about it? Stuart and Karen of Ken's Wine Guide (Ken must have been off that week?) also really liked it: "A deep pink peach color. The nose was fresh with notes of sour cherry and ripe melon with a hint of oak. Light to medium bodied and crisp. It is also refreshing and mouthwatering with faint apricot and sour cherry flavors. The finish is prolonged and pleasant. A very versatile summer picnic/barbecue wine. We would pair it with cheese and crackers, Caesar salad, grilled chicken, or sushi. A great value for $10!" But apparently I'm the only one tasting blood.
Should I bring it to a friend's house? Bring it to their BBQ. And can you ask them if they taste blood, too? Because I'm worried about myself now.
