Winemaker's Notes
As a pink wine, Syrah and Grenache are more similar than they are when vinified as red wines. Here, they are James Taylor and Carly Simon in harmony, their vocal range and overtones being rather similar. The grape varieties for this wine divide to conquer. The Syrah provides more plummy tones and texture while the Grenache brings acidic focus and soaring high perfume in the places Syrah does not go naturally. Yet the majority of tones are quite similar and they blend perfectly. This wine is essentially a carbon-copy of the past two vintages, which I consider to be precisely in the pocket of my intentions.
Mildly perfumed, some red apple aroma, and a little Santa Rosa plum follows on the nose. In the mouth, a firm salivary response to the bright acidity results in awakening the palate (in case it was asleep.) As the wine wanes in the mouth the flavors re-emerge just to remind us that this is serious stuff. I find that with olives, pink seafood, salty stuff like potato chips or fatty things like sardines, this is the perfect pairing. Clean and lovely…while just bottled, this will be at its best late summer if you have enough to last that long.
I am often asked why we don’t ramp up production as this type of wine has grown increasingly popular. My answer is that I want to produce one of the best domestic rosés and refinement is much preferred to exploitation.
Judi Scherrer –
California Grapevine – July 2018
Pale salmon color; attractive, fragrant, floral, strawberry and red apple aroma with hints of dried herbs; medium body; crisp, medium-light, red fruit flavors with bright, zesty acidity, a mineral note, and a pleasing mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. Nick Ponomareoff (My Score: First place, 89 of 100 points)
Judi Scherrer –
Vinous – August 2018
Light bright orange. Lively, mineral-accented red berry and orange zest aromas, joined by a suave floral nuance that builds in the glass. Dry and precise on the palate, offering lively strawberry and bitter cherry flavors and a bracing suggestion of bitter citrus pith. The floral note repeats strongly on the finish, which lingers with strong, sappy tenacity. 91 points. Josh Raynolds
Judi Scherrer –
Vinous – May 2019
Deceptive in its rather pale color, the 2017 Dry Rose’ (Syrah, Grenache) offers quite a bit of flavor intensity, which makes it an excellent choice for the dinner table. Today, it is super-expressive and full of character. 91 points. Antonio Galloni