Passaggio Wines 2016 Tempranillo Rosé

“My mom always wore rose colored glasses. Life does look good through rose colored glasses. This is to you.”

– Cindy Cosco, Passaggio Wines.

I actually didn’t see that quote on the bottle the day I decided to drink Passaggio Tempranillo Rosé. What I did know was that I was in for a long hard day and when I got home, I was going to want something cool and refreshing, but something out of the ordinary. Something that could simultaneously comfort and stimulate me. So, before I left for work, I put this out-of-the-ordinary rosé into the cellar to chill. And, yes, it was the perfect “welcome home” gift to myself. This is to you, Cindy. Cheers.

About the Wine: Passaggio Wines 2016 Tempranillo Rosé is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes harvested from Heringer Vineyard in Clarksburg. A purposeful rosé, Cindy presses the fruit straight-away upon its arrival from the vineyard, thus it receives minimal skin contact, resulting in the “non-rosé” color described below. After going through the press, the juices were allowed to settle overnight and then racked into stainless steel drums to ferment, cold, for 3 weeks.

“I have made this rosé for three years now,” says Cindy, “I wanted to produce something that you don’t hear of often. I think I have done that wth this varietal.”

Flavor Profile: As I mentioned, I let this rosé chill before enjoyment. For me, this is the way to go. But note, doing so will mute initial aromas as well as hide a bit of the texture. Depending on what you’re looking for (complexity of style-wise), use your best judgement on how cold you want this wine — if at all.

In the glass, the Passaggio Tempranillo Rosé isn’t pink at all, but more of an amber-hued shade of blush, similar to those peachy-colored roses. Initial aromas are of sunrise warming the morning dew on the blades of grass on a sparsely laid lawn — the dusty earth from underneath exposed: It’s the scent that foretells a hot summer’s day. And there’s nothing better to slurp on a warm summer day than a refreshing watermelon. Swirl and sniff again to find just a delicate undertone of the watery fruit. Stick your nose further in, take an even deeper breath, to find something even more full and kind of savory, like the meat of a coconut.

On the palate, with its delicate acidity and watery-melon overtones, there’s an additional funk of dried pineapple rings. Hold the wine in your mouth, let it linger just a little too long. Keep it there, lips pinched, and exhale through the nose. I think there’s a bit of smoke in the back. Try it and tell me if I’m wrong.

I don’t always do this, but I did take some “alternative” tasting notes while sipping the Passaggio Wines Tempranillo Rosé. I’ll share a bit of it here, as I think it may describe the wine even better than the above.

Dear Jack,

I’m sipping a wine so relaxing it deserves prose. It has an overwhelmingly good attitude that I myself seem to take on. I sip this wine and I’m in a lawn chair where dewy grass meets shoreline. I watch the waves crash sporadically, yet neatly.

If I stare into the sunlight and squint, I can see all my dreams and happy thoughts play out — real or unreal — and the trivialities that cause negativity don’t seem to exist. It’s a world where you don’t have to let shit go because there is no shit.

Jack, this is crazy, but I swear along the beach there’s a barbecue pit that’s toasting french bread. And as I reach over the flames, to squeeze and crunch the crust, little embers fly up, float into my mouth, spark my tongue, inflame my heart.

Food Pairing: I paired the Passaggio Wines Tempranillo Rosé with a seared salmon on top of a strawberry-herb salad, tossed with feta cheese. This rosé is light enough to cut through a meaty, oily fish like salmon. The acidity of the wine is delicate, so enjoying fresh fruits alongside is the perfect way to pull out even more fruity elements in the wine. The herbs, meanwhile, brought forward more of that earthy — and smokey(?) — component in the wine. Completely perfect meal pairing.

“I love this wine with a nice cheese and charcuterie plate,” says Cindy, “Or just sitting on the deck sipping it in the evening.”

More Info: I received the Passaggio Wines 2016 Tempranillo Rosé as a sample for review. (Cheers Cindy!) Retail Price: $32. For more information about Cindy, Passaggio, and to purchase her wines directly, please visit the Passaggio Wines website.

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