🌸 All-Day Rosé on the Northern Neck

Date: November 1, 2025
Location: Aboard the boat, Northern Neck of Virginia ☀️⚓
Participants: Lynn & Scott Johnson
Theme: “All-Day Rosé” — exploring four Walmart-sourced rosés between $9–$15 in search of the perfect crisp, refreshing wine for relaxed, sun-soaked sipping.

🍷 About the Varietal: Rosé

Rosé wines are made by briefly fermenting red grape skins with the juice, giving them their signature blush or salmon hue 🎨.
They bridge the freshness of white wines with the fruitiness of reds — expect flavors of strawberry, watermelon, citrus, peach, and raspberry, often balanced by crisp acidity.

In France’s Provence and Languedoc, rosés are typically dry, pale, and elegant 🍓🍑.
By contrast, California rosés lean fruitier and rounder, often blending varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Pinot Noir, or Merlot.
This tasting featured both California and French expressions — giving Lynn and Scott a trans-Atlantic comparison of styles 🇺🇸🇫🇷.

🥂 The Tasting Line-Up (Blind Order)

Wine A – Josh Cellars Rosé (2024)

Region: Hopland, California, USA 🇺🇸
Price: $12.98
Store: Walmart
Alcohol: 12.5%
Scores: Lynn 15 + Scott 12 = 27
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes – bring to a party
Would Scott buy again? ✅ Yes – drink at home, “All-Day Rosé” candidate
Tasting Notes:
Pale pink and delicate, with light pear and floral notes 🍐🌸. Dry and crisp, balanced with a clean finish and hints of Merlot’s soft fruit character. A lovely, refreshing starter — simple and elegant.

Wine B – Apothic Rosé (2024)

Region: Modesto, California, USA 🇺🇸
Price: $9.48
Store: Walmart
Alcohol: 13%
Scores: Lynn 16 + Scott 11 = 27
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes – bring to a party
Would Scott buy again? ✅ Yes – drink at home or on the boat
Tasting Notes:
Deeper pink hue 🌷 with aromas of melon, peach, and watermelon 🍉🍑. Softer and smoother than Wine A, pleasantly easy-drinking with low acidity — a true “troublemaker” all-day rosé. Great value for the price 💵.

Wine C – Kim Crawford Rosé (2023)

Region: France (Imported by Constellation Imports, Rutherford CA) 🇫🇷
Price: $14.87
Store: Walmart
Scores: Lynn 12 + Scott 9 = 21
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes – bring to a party (but not a favorite)
Would Scott buy again? ❌ No – too flat and short finish
Tasting Notes:
Extremely pale, almost white 🍾, with mild aromas and fleeting flavor. Possible Chardonnay base with a quick-vanishing finish. Simple and clean but lacked depth or persistence — not memorable for either taster.

Wine D – Yes Way Rosé (2024) 🏆

Region: South of France 🇫🇷
Price: $13.87
Store: Walmart
Alcohol: 12.5%
Scores: Lynn 16 + Scott 15 = 31 (WINNER)
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes – bring to a party, serve anytime
Would Scott buy again? ✅ Yes – “go-to rosé” and party favorite
Tasting Notes:
Beautifully balanced and aromatic with strawberry, citrus, white peach, and green apple 🍓🍑🍏. Lightly effervescent feel and crisp acidity, dry but fruit-forward. A crowd-pleaser that evokes the southern French summer.

🏅 Winner: Yes Way Rosé (2024, South of France)

With a combined score of 31, Yes Way Rosé earned the title of Best All-Day Rosé ☀️🥇.
Lynn and Scott loved its balance of fruit and dryness, elegant French minerality, and easy drinkability that invited second pours. Its bright notes of strawberry and citrus, clean finish, and festive character made it the standout of the day — perfect for sipping on the boat, at parties, or anywhere the sun’s shining 🌞🛥️.