This is my first taste of Kathleen Inman’s wine and I have to say I am absolutely honored that she and her team sent this my way. Because of scheduling issues, I’ve had to turn down at least two invites to meet with the iconic vintner herself, which left me gutted. Well, this little pink surprise perked me right back up to day the least. A solid acidity that provides a hint of effervescence that just fizzes away on the tongue leaving a solid finish — without giving too much away here, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised at how structurally sound this rosé of Pinot Noir was; it’s a rosé varietal that’s proven a bit too fruity and fatty in the past. If you’ve had that experience, cast those aspersions aside. Kathleen knows what she’s doing and, what’s more, it’s a wine that’s important to her, as it has a bit of a personal story behind the name and label…
From Kathleen:
The first time I had an elegant dry rosé wine was on a simple but romantic picnic with my husband Simon in Provence 25 years ago. Local cheese, bread, fruit, the fabulous, dramatic scenery and that Provençal wine with its delicate salmon pink color, crisp acidity and floral aromas forever linked in my mind rosé wines and al fresco dining with romance. In 2004, Simon and I harvested Olivet Grange Pinot Noir on September 1st, which was our 20th wedding anniversary. To celebrate and mark the occasion I made a special rosé, which I called “Endless Crush”.
About the Wine: The Inman Family 2017 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes harvested from the OGV estate vineyards located in the Russian River Valley AVA in Sonoma, California. The grapes were harvested, destemmed, and left to cold soak in half-ton macro bins. They were then pressed on a white wine cycle, afterwhich the juice was moved to tank for cold settling, and then racked and inoculated for primary fermentation (with Provençal yeast strain). The wine aged in closed stainless steel tanks.
Flavor Profile: Open the Inman Family 2017 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir and breathe in aromas of wild strawberries, wild flowers, watermelon and raspberries. The rosé presents a pale pink on the pour, settling into the glass a bit denswer with a subtle peach hue that brings to mind the late summer sunsets.
Initial aromas are of a richer strawberry and raspberry then sensed from the bottle. There’s a subtle hint of blood orange and a constant overtone of nasturtium nectar. Swirl and intensify that blood orange with zest and pith; add a subtle sea breeze scent that lightly dampens those wild flowers’ petals.
The palate of the Inman Family 2017 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir is soft, smooth, and round with a delicate acidity that provides a bit of effervescence. That effervescence then fizzes on the tongue, dissipating completely, leaving a glossy texture on the tongue. Dominant flavors are of pollen, nectar, blood orange juice, cranberry juice, and lime zest.
Food Pairing: I paired the Inman Family 2017 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir with a vegetarian rice bowl of quinoa, golden beetroot, spinach, brussel sprouts, and sautéed onion, topped with dried cranberries and parmesan cheese.
First off: yum.
What I loved was the cruciferous veggies (specifically the brussel sprouts) brought out that refreshing effervescence. The innate sweetness of the beetroot played nicely with the fruitier elements, while the cheese gave the wine a bit of a fuller-bodied mouthfeel, providing a bit of complexity missed when just sipping the rosé on its own. The black pepper I used to season the veg also brought out a kind of lavender aroma that I definitely missed during the initial tasting.
More Info: I received the Inman Family 2017 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir as a sample for review. (Cheers Kathleen! Cheers Sam!) Retail: $38. For more information about Inman Family, their wines, and to purchase wine directly, please visit the Inman Family Wines website.
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