NV Bonnaire Champagne Brut Rosé: Retail ~$50. Outstanding. This is one of Richard Juhlin’s favorite NV Champagnes and there is no doubt why. Rich and creamy with considerable heft. This is perhaps one of the best NV Champagnes I have had in a while (not counting Krug, of course). 91-93 Points.

2005 Campion Pinot Noir: Retail ~$30. The first bottle of this was a bit of a stinker and I was depressed since I had bought 6 of them. The second bottle was certainly an improvement over the first, and this built on that last bottle. Good fruit and secondary flavors, this has gone from a disappointment to serviceable to Very Good. 86-88 Points.

NV Deligeroy Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut: Retail $14. It has been several months since we have had a bottle of this, and I had forgotten how much I like it. Strawberry and cherry fruit, great sparkle and a decent finish. $14? This is a steal. Very Good. 88-91 Points.

2007 Expression Pinot Noir 44° Eola – Amity Hills: Retail ~$30. The flavors were all there, but the depth certainly was not. Thin through the midpalate and finish. This is certainly a serviceable Pinot, but not anything more than an everyday wine. Good to Very Good. 85-87 Points.

2009 Château Le Gay Festival: Retail ~$15. Dark color for a rosé–ruby red. On the palate great strawberry and raspberry fruit and bone dry. Fine through the midpalate, but lacking some acidity on the finish. Good to Very Good. 86-88 Points.

1985 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Reunion: Retail ??? Hmmm. A bunch of brett initially, which tried really hard to blow off. Behind it there was a bit of stewed fruit and plenty of tart acidity. I popped this after dinner to drink with the NCAA Championship Game. The game was a bit better than the wine. The following day, however, the brett had gone and the wine was much better–fruit, balance, finish. Very Good. 87-89 Points.

2003 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Côte-Rôtie Les Jumelles: Retail ~$50. I was a little worried about these since anything from France in 2003 is a bit of a crap shoot given the heat that year. Well, at least with this bottle, there was no need to worry. The fruit was fresh, but integrated (not stewed at all). It was a perfect match for the steak and really enjoyable. Excellent to Outstanding. 91-93 Points.

2005 Point Concepción Syrah Cuvée Jalama: Retail $22. My opinion of this wine has not wavered–it rocks. Big rich fruit (tons of blackberry and cassis). Thick and luscious on the palate with a great backbone (a bit of tannin and a bunch of acidity). This wine kills it on its own as well as with food. A real find. Excellent to Outstanding. 91-93 Points.

WINE OF THE WEEK: This week was a bit all over the place both from a geographic and quality standpoint. The Point Concepcion by Cargasacchi is really an outstanding wine, and the Côte Rotie was certainly a pleasant surprise. The N.V. Bonnaire Brut Rosé Champagne was this week’s top wine, however. I have a soft spot for all things Champagne since it was the first region I focused on when starting to learn about wine. That is not to say that it got a free pass to WOTW. The wine was deep and rich and one of the best N.V. Champagnes I have had in some time.

What was your wine of the week?