10/5/2016 What a pleasant surprise this lovely Rosé turned out to be! I found it to be quite versatile, and deserving of being sipped slowly to appreciate fully. I decanted it late in the afternoon and placed it in the refrigerator to breath and chill.
I did pour a few ounces out before decanting so the wine would have more room to breathe. I was delighted by the scent of young tart early strawberries, spring raspberries, a hint of vanilla and a delicate floral citrusy scent that I am torn between the heritage yellow tea roses that grew in my grandparents garden or the white magnolias that fleetingly waft by the porch on a warm southern spring evening. It is springtime in a bottle which elicited images of this gorgeous strawberry colored wine served with a spring meal of lamb with an au jus rosemary gravy made from the cooked juices of the lamb along with a touch of “new” Chianti wine accompanied by light and colorful seasonal vegetables.
For my first “tasting” I prepared a meal of tender Portobello mushrooms and shallots sautéed in butter to which I added a reduced chicken stock just before serving, over grain-free linguini and topped with a dusting of fresh ground ancho pepper. Prior to preparing the evening’s repast, I poured out about five ounces of this lovely light-bodied Rosé through an aerator into the stemware to breath a bit more and develop the flavors. And what wonderful flavors, surpassing the lovely scents that promised a delicious wine!
The very moment the wine hits the tip of the tongue it bursts with the flavor of tart Blakemore strawberries blended with early raspberries which lend a pleasant medium amount of acidity but is also reminiscent of the almost sweet pink grapefruit that delights with a dulcet lingering on the palate. The touch of sweetness creates a smooth, refreshing, and complex elixir over the tongue but also on the sides leaving a pleasant and slightly dry aftertaste.
This is definitely a wine to enjoy with dinner but also with dessert and complimented the small bowl of sweet strawberries drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate I ended dinner with.
For me, this is a wine to share with friends and for special occasion dinners as I found that by day three it lost some of its complexity as a simple sipping wine - which is how I prefer my wine. This wine needs to be consumed within a day or two of opening to enjoy its full bouquet and flavor. I usually drink one glass in the evening, either with my meal or after meals as it takes me 3 to 4 days to finish a bottle so this I would reserve for special occasions. It has a beautiful festive color and a wonderful complexity which, to me, makes it a perfect special occasion wine.
Origin: California USA
