2011 Michel-Schlumberger Le Flirt Dry Creek Rosé Duo

2 x 2011 Michel-Schlumberger Le Flirt Dry Creek Rosé

I'm fussy about my rosés, and as someone who really loves her red wines, I look for rosés that deliver some red-wine fruit flavor in a crisp, dry package. It takes a talented producer to satisfy my rosé requirements, but this wine exceeds my expectations. It has the delicious fruit character often found in reds, but it's bright and fresh enough to quench your thirst on the hottest day in August. Made from 100 percent Merlot, this wine enticed me with its color (much darker than you typically find in a rosé), then drew me in with a complexity that's downright startling in this style. Part of Michel-Schlumberger's secret can be found in the vineyard where the Merlot grapes are grown. It's the coolest part of the Michel-Schlumberger Estate vineyard, where the grapes ripen slowly and hold on to their vibrant freshness. The summer is nowhere close to cooling down, so if you're a hard-to-please red-wine lover like me, you'll need this gem on hand through Labor Day.

—Punky Mahle

Punky Mahle has more than 15 years of experience in the wine and food industries, most recently with luxury resorts. Before joining Lot18 as a Napa/Sonoma Wine Specialist, Punky was a sommelier with The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the wine director for the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix. Punky currently lives, works and plays in Napa Valley. She’s thrilled to share her backyard with Lot18 members and be able to bring the region’s most exciting wines to the community. Learn more about Punky here, or follow her on Twitter: @punkytime