I’m not all into the “rosé craze” because I’m actually quite particular about the pink I drink. I expect it to be light and delicate but I also expect it to have substance and structure. I tasted this rosé “blind,” as in I didn’t look at any tasting notes or tech sheet before enjoying and there was zero information on the back of the bottle. Not that I usually rely on that kind of information, but with a rosé, as with my blends, I prefer to know what it is a rosé of. Now that I found my tech sheet (it fell behind the wine rack…) I can see why I enjoyed this rosé so much. (Who likes Rhone-style blends? Raise your hand…)
About the Wine: The Big Sur Vineyard Rosé is made from 50% Grenache, 25% Cinsault and 25% Syrah grapes harvested from the winery’s Sycamore Flats Vineyard located in the Arroyo Seco AVA in Monterey County, California. After harvest, the grapes were foot-tread and left to macerate overnight. It was then pressed, cold-settled for 24 hours, and then fermented in 100% stainless steel. The wine was racked to neutral French oak before bottling.
12.5% ABV
Flavor Profile: Pop the cork to find light scents of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus. This rosé wine emits a peachy-pink on the pour and into the glass. Initial aromas are of vanilla, caramel – both of which surround those summertime fruits scented from the bottle. Swirl, mix it all together, and I challenge you not to think of a strawberry starburst…
The palate of Big Sur Vineyard’s rosé is lite with a delicate acidity, but with a touch of texture and an overall feeling of being solid. Dominant flavors are of lemon pith, pomegranate, wild strawberry, Thai basil, lemongrass, and a ocean-cliff-like earthiness is found on the finish. Swallow, exhale, and find an after breath of pink rose petal potpourri.
Food Pairing: Powerful in flavor, delicate in texture, this rosé is absolutely a versatile and food-friendly wine. I enjoyed over the course of several days both with and without food. (Pictured above is a veggie burger.) The winery suggests roasted chicken, watermelon and feta cheese salad, oil-cured olives, and Thanksgiving dinner.
More Info: I received the Big Sur Vineyard Rosé as a sample for review. (Cheers, Ryan!) Price: $15. For more information about Big Sur Vineyards, their wines, and to purchase wine directly, please visit the Big Sur Vineyards website.
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