Say again... you want Pink?! (Echo Falls White Zinfandel)

Member Name: cmh4135

Product:	Echo Falls White Zinfandel
Date:	31/01/08 (107 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshing, easy drinking wine, great for even non-wine lovers

Disadvantages: Lacking in body and character

Rose or blush wines are generally thought of as a bit lame in everyday circles. It's what you drink if you're a wine novice, particularly if you're female. It's thought of as being cheap and sweet. I don't know why. Maybe historically choice of blush wines was limited but, hand on heart, I think there are bad reds, whites and pinks out there but, bottle for bottle, far fewer bad pinks.

Echo Falls is one of the established "brands" of wine emanating from California. Being such a warm and sunny place, California is ideally suited to the growing of zinfandel grapes and, whilst the zin can produce some of the most rich and amazing reds it also produces a mean blush wine. Most of the branded Californian wineries will make a "white zinfandel" which is always a rose wine. Of the type I prefer Ernest and Gallo's version but the Echo Falls offering is very quaffable.

To look at a glass of chilled wine you'll notice that it has a bright, clear appearance. The colour on the rim is almost colourless but as one looks to the center of the glass that warming, reminiscent of summer, smoked salmon colour comes to the fore.

Swirling the wine produces a wonderful heady aroma of strawberries and peaches. There's just a hint of the peppery nose that you'd expect in the reds but what you're really smelling is the fresh smell of lazy summer days.

On the palate you can again pick up the summer fruits. This is a very balanced wine, it's medium sweet (to my taste) with a refreshing acidity which is tempered by the fruity flavours. It's the kind of wine that slips down without you noticing too much and, with a finish that's not very long will have you squiffy in a jiffy! Compared to the E&G version it's less complex and a touch more sweet but it's pleasant nonetheless.

This is a wine best served chilled but less chilled than most whites. If over chilled then the fruity flavours get lost. It's an excellent partner to salads and light bites but the zin grape also means it will stand up to stronger offerings such as barbies.

To me, white zins conjure up the essence of summer and Echo Falls is a good example of its type. Expect to pay no more than about £5 a bottle and enjoy alone or with friends for the perfect way to relax.

Summary: An easy-drinking blush wine