An Abacela 2012 Grenache Rose gave me enormous pleasure and as I followed it to the bottom of the bottle later in the day on which I had encountered it, I was almost surprised – but certainly delighted – to confirm that it really was as good as my initial notes suggested! A luscious and refreshing amalgam of rhubarb and pink grapefruit tinged with rose hip (or have I merely donned pink glasses to taste this?) preserves an inexplicable sense of levity even at 13.1% alcohol. In its sweetly-ripe way this is far fruitier, yet at the same time is so much livelier and more refreshing than the great majority of its South-of-France cousins. Hints of salt and stone add to the appeal of a lip-smackingly long finish. I’d plan to enjoy this sensational value (immensely) over the next 6-9 months. Abacela in southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley illustrates a diversity of soils as well as exposures ranging from southerly to northerly, all of which no doubt supplies grist for the academic mill of Greg Jones, whose parents founded this estate, and who has become the go-to climatologist in matters vinous well beyond Oregon’s borders. Tel. (541) 679-6642