Two GORGEOUS, rich, dry roses to beat the HEAT, one FROM A SUPER HIGH END NAPA CULT CAB producer (90 to 92 POINTS), one from SPAIN (89+points) and a LONG TIME GRAPE WINE CO. FAVORITE:

The Rosé Boom Shifts Into High Gear

Pink wine is in: Dry rosé has become one of the hottest trends in wine. The above-$8 rosé category was up 34% to $63 million in the 52 weeks ended May 23, according to Nielsen, with volume rising 29% to nearly half a million cases, about double the category's 2012 total.

Retailer Sherry-Lehmann in New York City is doing a brisk business in rosé year-round. "We've had years of double-digit growth from an already very strong base," says CEO Chris Adams. He adds that rosé tends to appeal to younger consumers with good wine knowledge.

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1) 2013 BLACKBIRD ARRIVISTE NAPA VALLEY ROSÉ, $8-10 OFF PER BTL. $17.95

A CABERNET drinker's ROSE!

			Bottle			GRAPE WINE CO SPECIAL PRICING
BLACKBIRD ROSE -ARRIVISTE- 2013	2013		$28.00			$17.95			240 btls

*Inventory is listed in bottles

The 2013 Arriviste is an elegant, salmon red-colored rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. On the

nose, strawberry and iris aromas meld with hints of tropical fruit. The wine showcases crisp flavors of tart cherry, red

apple and cool citrus on the mid-palate, carrying clean minerality and bright acidity on to the lingering finish. The 2013

Napa Valley growing season saw near-optimal conditions, allowing for an abundance of perfectly-ripe grapes with a

smooth balance of acids and sugars, producing this spectacular rosé. *The 2013 is 58% Cabernet where-as the 2014 will be much different in style as it has a greater portion of Cab Franc (will be a lighter bodied rose). This is the last vintage of its kind for the famous Blackbird Rose!

WINEMAKER: Aaron Pott

BLEND: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon - 22% Merlot - 20% Cabernet Franc

FERMENTATION: Saignée method, cold fermented for 6 weeks,

ALCOHOL: 14.5%

Arriviste

Inspired by "les gitanes," the gypsies of St. Emilion, Blackbird Vineyards' Arriviste captures the high-spirited nature of

winemaking. This vibrant, puckish rosé conjures images of summer twilights and harvest moons. While it hints at the

flavors of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that frame it, Arriviste is not a wine to demystify. It is simply a wine to enjoy.

2013 Vintage

Look at ALL the GREAT RATINGS and REVIEWS below:

90 Points

"An intense, structured wine thick in strawberry and raspberry flavor with just a hint of herbal amidst its complex layers."
— Wine Enthusiast

92 Points

"2013 Arriviste was tasted close to room temperature. The nose is deeply chiseled graphite, strawberry and peach. The palate is bone dry with licorice, graphite, strawberry, and oyster shell-like mineral - crisp and clean. The finish is clean with notes of parsley, geranium, peach and salt. Arguably the best Arriviste I have reviewed. Drink 2015 - 2016."
— Doug Wilder, purely domestic wine report

5/5 Stars - Exceptional

"Screw cap. Excellent rose: fragrant, dry, full bodied, moderately intense in flavor, it is medium long on the finish, with a hint of tannin, and tastes of strawberry, raspberry, herbs, and grapefruit."
— Restaurant Wine
August 2014

90 points (Very Good+)

"It opens with mild clementine and wet stone bouquet with a hint of red cherry. On the palate, this wine is initially medium bodied and freshly acidic."
— Ken's Wine Guide

Perfect to beat the HEAT!!!

Enjoy Summer, JUST RELEASED, their NEW and SPECTACULAR 2014 vintage:

2) Armas de Guerra Rosado 2014-Rose, this IS the BEST ROSE under $20 that we have tasted in a LONG TIME and the label/case is cool/unique too (the weapons of war) we ALWAYS keep not just ONE-but TWO bottles in the fridge by the pool on Sundays...so dry, crisp, clean and SUPER refreshing, yum!

Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar

89 Points AGAIN (and Tanzer is a TOUGH rater)

The Grape Wine Company Sale Price $13.95

Wine Maker Notes:

Pale pink. Aromas and flavors of pink grapefruit, redcurrant and white pepper show very good clarity and energy. Concentrated flavors of a Rosado, with a nervy acid structure providing shape and lift. Finishes taut and minerality, with an echo of red berries.

Vinos Guerra, founded in 1879, is the oldest winery in the Bierzo region in NW Spain, close to Portugal. The founder Don

Antonio Guerra was a pioneer in many ways. Mr. Guerra was one of the first producers to bottle

Methode champanoise wines in Spain. In addition to wine, Don Antonio also produced a variety of

Spirits from Agua Ardiente, to Vermouth and Anisettes. Today the Guerra winery farms 1/3 of all the vineyards of the Bierzo region. Out of the 3,000ha (7,413 acres) of vineyard land in Bierzo, Guerra takes care of 1,000ha (2,471 acres), however they only make wine with the best 10% of grapes. This rigorous selective process allows the Guerra wines to show, consistently, extraordinary quality. In addition to been so selective, Guerra possesses among the oldest and most precious Mencia (Mehn-cee-ah) and Dona Blanca vines in the Bierzo region. The average age of these vines is 50 years making wines that are able to communicate an impressive sense of depth and flavor. In summary Guerra is one of the most historic wineries in Spain focus in making wine with the best selection of grapes coming from old vines that are 50+ years old. All these vineyards are organic and dry farmed.

WHAT MAKES THIS WINE UNIQUE?: An historic winery founded in 1879, making wines with old vines 50+ years old, from organically grown dry-farmed vineyards. In addition Guerra controls 1/3 of all the vineyard land in Bierzo (1,000ha 2,471 acres) and only makes wine with the best 10% of the grapes harvested.

GRAPE: 100% Mencia. Vines planted from 1958-1968. MENCIA IS A "COUSIN GRAPE"OF SYRAH

Tended in river stone and clay soil at 450-600 m (1,476 - 1,968 ft.) elevation

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: This light dry rose is perfect for light salads, light pasta and rice dishes, especially with seafood, raw and lightly cooked shellfish and grilled fish and goats' cheeses. Monica & Oliver suggest a Salade Nicoise! Very cool label too with the wicked fighting knife!

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