Purchased from World Market, $14.99
Aaron: Strawberry and spiky, purple cactus fruit. This smooth finishing rose left a lingering butter flavor like a chardonnay. This is pretty fruity and what I expect a rose to taste like, not overly sweet, more like jelly beans without the sugar. 89 points
Teri: This wine is hearty for a rose but still easy drinking. Flavors of cashew, rose petals, lemon, and strawberry add some bright complexity. 87 points
Aaron: Don’t buy this if you’re looking for complexity, buy it if you’re looking for a party. This is really sweet, like super sweet strawberry juice laced with sugar. Personally, I don’t like grapefruit, but if you cut this with about 1 part grapefruit juice and 2 parts cupcake you’ve got a pretty tasty cocktail. 86 points
Teri: Cupcake makes some quality wines that are easy to find and reliable but this one didn’t impress me. This sparkling red comes close to the wine’s name itself, it’s sweet. Not a viscus texture but the sweetness reminds me of what you get with late harvest wines. The predominant flavors are cherry and strawberry with some holiday spice. If you like sweet (or a newer wine drinker) this is the bottle for you. Other than that, I’d use it in mixed cocktails and make sure to balance it out with some tart flavors like lime or grapefruit. 84 points
Aaron: This had a bright, sharp, floral nose and the flavor isn’t too sweet (I feel this is important to clarify since some might expect it to be sugary). I really liked the bubbles but the flavor was a little too bitter for me. Lots of strawberry and tart rhubarb with grapefruit. 88 points.
Teri: A dry and crisp rose with light flavors of cranberry and strawberry. Not much smell to the sparkling wine, just some light strawberry. Refreshing overall. If you enjoy roses you will like this one. 89 points
Available from Van Camp Cellars, $19.99
Aaron: I’m not a huge rose fan but this is pretty solid. Flowers, bark, and bourbon lead to a full flavor with good body. The flavor is pretty simple: strawberries, strawberries, and more strawberries. 90 points
Teri: This is a darker rose with rich but refreshing flavors. It carries a blend of vegetable (mostly bell pepper) and strawberry with some light cherry. Medium body and tannins for a rose but still great with a variety of dishes or just to enjoy on its own. 88 points
The Vino Duo 