I wouldn’t say I’m into the rosé craze, but I will admit that more winemakers are crafting beautiful rosés, paying more attention to the specificity of flavors and textures innate in the grape’s variety. I’d say I’ve had the worst luck with Pinot Noir rosé’s — they seem to be over-extracted, too fruit forward, too one-dimensional, and, I hate to say it, too pink. But again, I’ve been noticing a difference over the past few years, and I can tell you for certain that Clos du Val has it right. Subtle aromas, hints of texture, and a sunset-orange hue: everything I wasn’t expecting from a rosé of Pinot Noir, but everything I love when sipping a rosé any day.
About the Wine: The Clos du Val 2017 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes harvested from Clos du Val’s estate vineyards located in the Carneros AVA of Napa Valley, California. The grapes were fermented cold in stainless steel. The wines then aged for 6 months in 100% stainless steel tanks.
12.9% ABV
Flavor Profile: Open the bottle of the Clos du Val 2017 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé and breathe in soft aromas of strawberries, watermelon, and lavender. This rosé is a light peach on the pour, settling into the glass just a shade darker with hints of orange — definitely not pink — and with a beautiful clarity right through that color.
This rosé is very aromatic. Scents definitely include strawberries, but also stone fruits, like white nectarines, and florals as well. Swirl and bring in some fresh water scents surrounding those florals and a slight hint of acidity. The palate of the Clos du Val 2017 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé is soft, soft, soft. There’s just a delicate acidity that rides through the background, providing just a pop of warm spice tingle along the tongue during the finish. Dominant flavors are of strawberry, blood orange zest, nasturtium, a hint of tarragon, and a hint of something savory.
Food Pairing: I paired the Clos du Val 2017 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé with a spicy lentil wrap alongside a chopped veggie salad tossed with a creamy parsley dressing and fresh avocado. What I loved in particular about this pairing was the spicy lentils. The heat in the wrap did well to bring out that spice on the finish in the wine, but also accentuated those floral notes floating in the background. Just beautiful.
This was a simple mid-week meal and I thoroughly enjoyed this wine with this dish. You could easily enjoy this along other, more exotic spice-filled cuisines, like Indian-style or Thai-inspired curries.
More Info: I received the Clos du Val 2017 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé as a sample for review. (Cheers Ben!) Price: $30. For more information about Clos du Val, their wines, and to purchase wines directly, please visit the Clos du Val website.
BriscoeBites officially accepts samples as well as conducts on-site and online interviews. Want to have your wine, winery or tasting room featured? Please visit the Sample Policy page where you can contact me directly. Cheers!
