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 André Clouet Champagne Rose No. 3, France: Retail $50. Ridiculously Heavy Bottle (882g; 31.1oz). 100% Pinot Noir Grand Cru (10% Bouzy rouge added to the vin clair). I bought a couple more bottles of this wine, which encouraged me to pop this bottle, purchased exactly a year ago (or close enough). While the last bottle (no, not that Last Bubbles) was, well, less than “good”, this is certainly in the “Excellent” range, on the verge of “Outstanding”. Similar notes to those previous bottles, it will be interesting to see how these two recently purchased wines compare. Excellent. 92 Points.

2024 BP Provence Select Les Sarrins Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France: Retail $25. Very Heavy Bottle. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah. I was on my way out of town again and I hustled off to my H-E-B (I love my H-E-B) before I left. Not only was my favorite rosé on sale for under $15, but it was also the most recent vintage (2024–it seems that H-E-B skipped the 2023 altogether). Medium pink in the glass with a luscious nose of wild strawberry and ripe canteloupe with hints of red and white flower, and a touch of minerality. Yowza. The palate is perhaps even more enticing with all that melon, tart strawberry, a flinty wet rock, and oodles upon oodles of racy acidity. Yowza. My love for this estate goes back a decade, but this might be their finest rosé to date. Outstanding. 95 Points.

2023 Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir Vintner’s Reserve, California: Retail $25. Very Responsible Bottle (471g; 16.6oz). Under screwcap. I bought half a case of this for a large tasting near Dallas and there were three bottles left. I popped one tonight. I have tasted this blind numerous times for my annual Blind Tasting of American Pinot Noir and it has always done surprisingly well. Fantastic fruit (albeit a bit extracted), which initially -comes off as a little bit over-the-top, but I am in line with this wine that often sells for around $15 (or under). Not a world-beater by any means, but this is an honest quaff, at an honest price that delivers, for the most part. Very Good. 88 Points.

NV Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé Extra Dry, Italy: Retail $8. Heavy Bottle (but really darned good for a sparkling wine! 601g; 21.2oz). I could not find the composition here, but it has to be at least 85% Glera and use Pinot Nero for the color. Yeah, it’s fine. My wife likes it more than I do, but well, let’s not go there. Fruity, fun, fine. Look, this is not the best that Prosecco has to offer, but for eight bucks? This certainly over delivers! Buy a few bottles to keep for when, I don’t know, Uncle Cletus stops over unannounced? Very Good. 87 Points.

2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal, Champagne, France: Retail $80. 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir. There is just something about vintage champagne and I know I am far from the first person to type that. Pommery is always a favorite visit when I am in Champagne, and popping a bottle always brings back fond memories. More wines like this 2008 Grand Cru will only further underscore that sentiment. Near golden in color with plenty of yellow apple and yeastiness on the nose, yowza. This is why I buy vintage champers. Yum. The palate is even more alluring with rich, yeasty fruit, plenty of sparkle still, a near searing acidity, and a finish that lasts for days. We bought several bottles of this wine and while it might continue to age beautifully, it is so darned good now. Outstanding. 95 Points.

NV J-M Seleque Brut Solessence 7 Villages, Champagne, France: At The Library Wine Bar, Houston: $118. 50% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir. A bit of a cult producer and while his vintage wines go for a pretty penny, this non-vintage is always a favorite despite the relatively high preponderance of Pinot Meunier (not my fave). A bit of color here with a stunning nose of golden apple, a touch of mandarin rind, and baked croissant a go-go. Yowza. The palate is quite rich and voluptuous with plenty of fruit up front and a racy acidity that roars in almost immediately and rules the roost through the glorious and lengthy finish. Whoa. Outstanding. 95 Points.

WINE OF THE WEEK: There were three solid choices for Wine of the Week this go around, all of them garnering 95 points from yours truly. In the end, I opted for the 2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal Champagne for the top honor. Why? First of all, it’s champagne, vintage champagne, and it’s fabulous. Second, as I mentioned in the note, it is fabulous now, but still might actually improve. Next, at $80 (Total Wine), it is fairly affordable for a vintage champagne from a phenomenal vintage. And last? Even though I stated in the note that I bought this wine, it was actually my wife who spotted it at Total Wine and bought several bottles for me for Father’s Day.

What was your Wine of the Week?