Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife.  Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts). NV Lanson Champagne Brut Black Label, France: Retail $50. Extremely Heavy Bottle (839g; 29.5oz). 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier. It has been a while since I have tried a bottle of Lanson, but when it came up on WineSlash for $36/bottle with free shipping and the tariffs looming, I pulled the trigger. Glad I did. Great tree fruit abounds on both the nose and the palate, with the requisite yeasty component, brilliant acidity, and a fervent sparkle. Always a solid wine, at least in my experience. Excellent. 91 Points. 2017 Weingut R & A Pfaffl Zweigelt Vom Haus, Weinviertal, Niederösterreich, Austria: Retail $20. Responsible Bottle (506g; 17.8oz). Under screw cap. There are a few wine varieties out there that I just can’t get behind: Petite Sirah, Blaüfrankisch, and Zweigelt all come to mind. Thus, when I won this on a wine cruise along the Danube (it was a wine trivia game, I mean, come on, I better win that) I tried to be enthused (I wasn’t). For some reason, I brought it back to Texas with me, tossed it in the cellar, and forgot about it. Until tonight. The wife had gone to bed (something about “work” in the morning) but I was still watching the game (which turned out to be a waste of time; my team lost) and wanted just one more glass (seriously, just one), so I grabbed this, assuming I wouldn’t want a second glass of Zweigelt. As it turns out? Not half bad. Great fruit (even eight years out), ample acidity, and even a hint of complexity. Don’t get me wrong, this is a classic pizza wine, but a really good one. I had made a bet with myself that if I opened the wine and my team won, I would give Zweigelt another chance. Well, my team lost, leaving me off the hook, but if this is a basic Zweigelt, I might still have to go there. Very Good. 89 Points. NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Essentiel Extra Brut, France: Retail $65. Extremely Heavy Bottle (861g; 30.3oz). Based on 2017 vintage. 45% Pinot Noir, 36% Pinot Meunier, 19% Chardonnay. 23% reserve wine. Straw to light yellow in color with tons of tree fruit (green apple, pear, a bit of peach) with oodles of brioche and fresh croissant. The palate is tart, even quite tart, with a slight savory component and a fervent sparkle. I think I was right: this could use a little time, but it is Outstanding right now. While the flavor profile is similar to previous bottles, this is particularly delicious tonight. Is that because my team is winning in the playoffs? And in an impressive fashion? As my 16-year-old son would say: “Perchance”. I don’t care why, I am bumping this up a notch. Outstanding. 94 Points. 2014 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy: Retail $30. Delightfully Responsible Bottle (466g; 16.4oz). 100% Sangiovese. I was doing a bit of cellar management and I found this bottle, which I had received as a gift from the fine people at Terlato Imports as a gift way back in 2017. And I had forgotten about it until now. Medium ruby color in the glass with fantastic (although somewhat muted) aromas of dried cranberry and cherry, a touch of green pepper, and oodles of spice. The palate is similar with muted dried fruit, considerable earth, and a dried herbal/spice aspect that was very food friendly. I have little doubt that I waited a tad too long on this wine, but it is particularly delightful tonight with our mediocre pizza and playoff basketball. Excellent. 90 Points. 2023 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Rosé, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $25. Very Responsible Bottle (425g; 15.0oz). Under screw cap. I went to my H-E-B (I love my H-E-B) and I bought the remaining 13 bottles of this wine. Sure, that is not my favorite number, but at just over eleven bucks, I figured I could put up with a little bad luck. Light color with a bubblegum tint to it with a classic rosé nose of red berry fruit and rose petal. Fruity and lush on the palate, with plenty of tartness and a salinity that really works. Outstanding. 93 Points. 2022 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France: Retail $30. Heavy Bottle (611g; 21.6oz). Under DIAM10. Pinot Blanc is a bit of the red-headed stepchild in Alsace. There are seven main grape varieties in the region, six whites (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Sylvaner, and Pinot Blanc) and one red (Pinot Noir). Among the whites, the first four are considered “noble” and can achieve Grand Cru status. So can Sylvaner, albeit in one vineyard (the Zotzenberg for those scoring at home [or even if you’re alone]). And just recently, Pinot Noir has achieved Grand Cru status in a few vineyards (with more to come, for sure). The one that is left out all together? Yup, Pinot Blanc. Why? I am not entirely sure but seeing that I can safely say I have never had an “amazing” example of the variety, I guess it follows? Regardless, when I saw this Blanc on the list at a local restaurant (one that we used to frequent regularly), I jumped (after a rather disappointing Rioja Bianco, I must say). Some color in the glass, certainly beyond straw and well into “yellow” with some lovely tree fruit (slightly under-ripe peach, Bosc pear), a white flower component, and perhaps a soupçon of hazelnut (no, I never say “soupçon” but I just watch Sideways for the 117th time). The palate tends rich and round, but with a mineral note and a smattering of fruit. No, it is not a game changer, and maybe Pinot Blanc is destined to forever remain in the shadows in Alsace, but tonight, on a “date” with my betrothed, it took me back to my time in Alsace and that was not all that bad. At all. Excellent. 90 Points. WINE OF THE WEEK: This was one of those weeks that I honestly could have selected any of the above wines as the Wine of the Week. The Weinbach Pinot Blanc, either of the champagnes, the il Poggione, or even the Zweigelt (OK, not the Zweigelt). In the end, I opted for the 2023 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Rosé for several reasons. First, it is really good; it has been a part of my annual blind rosé tasting for nine years and just about every year, it is chosen as one of the top wines. Second, it helps to prove my point that really well-made rosés can last, even thrive, after the year of their release. And last? It is currently eleven bucks at the H-E-B. I mean come on….

What was your Wine of the Week?