Sip Pink!
I'd like to thank my friends at Protocol Wine Studio for hosting a wonderful and educational wine tasting last month with a focus on rose' wines. Summer is a natural fit for crisp, dry rose' wines. Don't think sweet pink/orange wines, think refreshing, appetite inducing versatile wines.
Each of the three rose's samples I received were different and complimented different types of cuisine. I was especially intrigued by the Erzetic Winery Rose' from Slovenia and the Donelan Rose' from Sonoma. Very different and fun wines. Stock up now to allay the heat of summer.
About Protocol Wine Studio
Protocol Wine Studio hosted the June 2015 #WineStudio session on Rose' wines. Protocol Wine Studio is all about wine education, thus a better understanding of our world via wine and our part in that world. Bravo. Follow along with our tweets on Tuesday evenings at 6 pm Pacific.
Tasting Notes
1. Erzetic Winery Damski Rose', Slovenia
About: The Erzetic family is a 5th generation winemaking family. Today, Aleksij Erzetic, inspired by his father Anton, utilizes modern winemaking techniques to reflect traditional wines with a modern style. Winery is located in the Goriska Brda district which borders the Italian wine region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Vineyard altitude 1,112 ft. soils are Flysch (hard sedimentary soil with iron). Intentional rose' with skin contact for a few hours until desired color. Stainless ferment, cold stabilized.
*Note: Purchase direct from Old Word Vines with Welcome15 code for 15% off.
*Resource: Slovenia Wine Growing Districts.
Color: Melon pink.
Nose: Toasted, mineral, dried fruit, floral, pretty.
Palate: Toasty strawberry, preserved apricot, peach, textured, focused to mid-palate, minerality and light tartness on tasty finish.
After 15 minutes: Nose expanded, focused fruit potpourri, dry edges, fresh bubblegum. Like. Very present on the palate, focused front to middle, textured with good acidity, acid orange, red berries, medium finish. Tasty.
After 30 minutes: Much the same, intense nose, acid more present. Not a simple rose', packed with flavor, textured and lively.
Day two: Strawberry and melon with a lot of acid. Sensual fruit finish. Paired with pasta salad and aged Gouda. Wonderful pairing and bottle disappeared fast.
Thoughts: Very aromatic, could smell this wine from 8 feet away. Acid driven with fruit and aromatics. Traditional food pairings include, fried pastries, prosciutto and hard cheeses. Not a simple rose', it was packed with flavor, textured and lively. Enjoy with hearty dishes. A fun change of pace for me. Recommended.
Country: Slovenia
Winemaker: Aleksij Erzetic
Blend: 100% Merlot, hand picked grapes
Closure: Natural Cork
ABV: 12.5%
SRP: $23.95
Imported exclusively by Old World Vines
2. Donelan Rose' 2014 Sonoma County
About: Donelan Family Wines is a small winery in Sonoma County producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Roussanne. This rose' was made using the saignée method, where the grapes are loaded into tanks and juice is pulled after short skin contact of 1 hour to 24 hrs. The extracted juice represents 5% to 20% of total volume as it serves a dual purpose of making red wine from the remaining juice, more concentrated and allowing for the production of a second wine - a rosé.
Visit: Tasting Lounge is open by appointment most weekdays and weekends from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm - contact winery.
Color: Watermelon pink, shiny. Pretty.
Nose: Quiet nose, floral, mineral, hint of peach.
Palate: Crisp, dry, curled grip mid-palate, delicate nectarine skin, tannin on teeth, powdered tartness, unripe fruit.
After 20 minutes: Tart and vibrant, textured on the tongue, delicate flavors, unripe red fruit, creamy quality on the finish after 25 minutes. Powdery floral quality, mineral background on the nose. Refreshing on a hot afternoon.
Day two: Paired with a green salad and voila! Wonderful match. A wine best suited for green salads and summer fair. Wonderful pairing.
Thoughts: Made for green salads. Loved this wine with a green salad of lettuce, tomato, Feta cheese, yoghurt dressing. Wonderful food pairing for those who don't eat meat or enjoy lighter fair on hot days. Well done. Recommended alone and Strongly Recommended with a salad.
Winemaker: Joe Nielsen
Blend: 55% Syrah, 29% Grenache and 16% Pinot Noir
Closure: Natural Cork
ABV: 13.3%
SRP: $25
Production: 290 Cases
Sample provided by the winery
3. Y. Rousseau 2014 Rose' of Tannat Russian River Sonoma
About: Y. Rousseau Wines, In 1996, Yannick Rousseau made his first Colombard at Domaine St Lannes in the "Cotes de Gascogne". In 1998, Yannick earned a Master's degree in Enology and Viticulture from University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse. Since 1999, Yannick has been making wine in Napa Valley. In August 2007, Yannick stepped out to look for the ideal vineyards and varietals he believed in. He loves the intense mountain fruit of Mount Veeder and he found one of the last (34 year old) Colombard vineyards in the Russian River Valley.
The Plume is the symbol of Y. Rousseau and represents the 'feather in the cap' of the most famous Musketeer, D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan came to be known as the ambassador of the Gascony lifestyle reaching into the hearts of people along his journeys as a true 'Bon Vivant'.
Visit: Private & Exclusive Tasting with Winemaker/Owner by Appointment only.
902 Enterprise Way, Suite O, Napa, CA 94558, Tel: 707-224-8736
“I don’t follow trend, I make wine of conviction. I make wine I want to enjoy myself.” -Yannick Rousseau
Nose: Delicate aromatics, mineral, melon.
Color: Light melon with pink highlights.
Palate: Vital on the palate, viscous on the gums, unripe fruit, sour melon, sour cherry, dry, light citrus and slate on the clean, dry finish.
*Note: Strawberry on the palate when paired with Manchego cheese, cherry on palate when paired with ham, also a good match to salad with creamy yoghurt dressing. Food wine.
After 15 minutes: More fruit on the nose, gentle floral powder, touch of funk. Strawberry present, creamy sharpness, unripe raspberry, focused to middle, happy mouth, medium finish. Quite nice at this point alone and with salad.
After 30 minutes: Toasty strawberry on the nose, fresh yeast and mineral. Creamy, strawberry, vanilla yoghurt, sharp spike in middle, tingle on gums, brioche into the finish. Craved baked bread and pastry. A grilled slider would have been perfect, or a BLT.
Day two: Citrus tang with strawberry essence, savory down the middle with a honeyed finish. Bright zing mid-palate. Lingering strawberry/raspberry on elegant finish.
Thoughts: I'm a big fan of Tannat. It was a true treat to taste a 100% Tannat rosé. This wine held up well over four days, and remained fresh and creamy with an emphasis on watermelon. Enjoyed outdoors over several hot afternoons. Recommended.
AVA: Russian River Valley
Vineyard: Saralee's Vineyard - Mathew's Station
Blend: 100% Tannat rosé
75% Vin gris / 25% saignée
Closure: Screw Cap
ABV: 13.5%
SRP: $25
Production: 275 cases
Sample provided by winery
Time to put these rose' wines on your table and enjoy summer fare indoors or out. These are lovely wines to pair with food and friends. Each has something unique to offer palates and cuisines. I hope you enjoy them as well as I did. Big thank you to the wineries, distributor and especially, Protocol Wine Studio.
Cheers!