Bargain Pink Wine

I found myself bargain hunting again. I keep telling myself to keep my eyes on the upper shelves, but the lure of a beautiful rosé for hardly any money is too much for me to resist.

The 2024 Castle Rock Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown in Monterey County, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Winemaker Meghan Daniels Rech has her signature on the label. Alcohol stays at 13% abv and it costs only $5 at Trader Joe's. 

This wine has a beautiful, rich salmon color, and great clarity. The nose is subtle, but it shows hints of strawberry, cherry, peach and citrus. The palate displays a medium acidity and feels crisp and refreshing in the mouth. Red fruit dominates the flavor profile, yet the complexity leaves something to be desired. For the $5 price, it’s hard to complain about a wine that tastes good, but I do wish there was more to think about while sipping it. By the pool? Certainly. With a pasta salad? Go for it. I roasted some walnuts while sipping it, and the wine paired well with them. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky