Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare 1998

There is a tender spot in my heart for pink wine. (This is spoken by a man who is very secure with respect to his gender issues.) As a genus, pink wine is seldom taken seriously and yet vin en rose is capable of offering among the most blissful moments that a mere alcoholic beverage can provide. Producing a great pink wine is generally a thankless task, it must be said. When it works, people are pleased but generally remain mute. When it is less than brilliant, punters' rosaphobic prejudices are simply confirmed. Somewhere in the process of making pink wine, you are faced with the forking path of maximizing fruitiness and the optimization of complexity. When in doubt, go for everything, perhaps best typifies our attitude here at Bonny Doon. The wine was left on its lees, which were periodically stirred; this has added complexity and a wonderful creaminess of texture. At the same time, the wine has retained its fructive supremacy - wild strawberry and shockingly vivid guava are the dominant tones, complemented by more discreet suggestions of peach and (what else) pink grapefruit. Our pink is a highly nuanced proprietary blend and strongly Syrah dominant - I can tell you that much under the Freedom of Vinformation Act - and as such, it is quite spicy, pleasingly peppery and saturated with the sap of spring. Varietal Composition: Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, Pinot Meunier, Charbono, Dolcetto