High Valley Vineyards Rose 2017
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: There used to be the adage, "Rosés go with everything, including being served in place of soft drinks." That was when many of the world's pink wines were candied sweet and thanks to the white Zinfandel craze that went out of control, sugar was the category's reason to be. While classic French rosés were dry, the New World blush wines defined the category. The 2017 High Valley Vineyard Rosé takes the discussion into the direction that pink wines are not just pretty, but beautiful and delectable with meals. TASTING NOTES: This wine—a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre is bright with lovely red fruits and tangy on the palate with excellent acidity. Pair its crisp finish with baked chicken over a bed of risotto. (Tasted: April 18, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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The vineyards hug the mountain rims along the south-east edge of High Valley AVA. Surrounded by dramatic landscapes and pristine wilderness, the story of High Valley is clearly visible from our property. At 2,200 feet, on top of the Terre Vermeille vineyard look to your south, you'll see the deep blue waters of Clear Lake, that provide cooling winds throughout our long summer days. Turn to the west, and you can distinguish where the lava flows give way to the alluvial fan of the ancient lake bed on the valley floor. And from the north, and you can feel the cold night winds from Snow Mountain and the peaks of the Mendocino National Forest.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
Sitting on the northeast side of the Clear Lake appellation, this warm area boasts multiple soil types that allow growers a lot of flexibility and experimentation with grape varieties. While Sauvignon blanc is a mainstay, this zone excels with Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, as well as other less common varieties like Barbera and Tempranillo.