Winemaker Notes
Our 2018 Angels & Cowboys Sonoma County Rosé is crafted using traditional techniques borrowed from the great winemaking domains of Provence in the South of France. This Vin Gris style permits only a very short maceration/contact time between the juice of the grape berries and their skins. In keeping with this delicate style, our grapes are harvested at around 21 degrees Brix- a tipping point where berry flavors are developed, fresh, and light but have not yet matured to a richer, fuller - bodied style. This early flavor profile maturity aligns with a most pleasing acid balance. Our vines are harvested in the early morning hours when the fruit is at its coolest temperature and berries are firm, to resist juicing during transport to the winery. We load the fruit direct to press with no de-stemming or crushing and allow a few short minutes of skin contact time before initiating the press cycle, a process which minimizes color extraction from our prized Grenache grapes and creates a wine of delicacy and refinement. Once pressed away from its skins the juice is transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Post-fermentation, the must is left "sur lie" for several weeks. This imparts soft, creamy notes to the wine to balance vibrant acidity while contributing depth and mouthfeel. The bouquet opens with ripe mango and citrus zest aromas with enticing savory herbs. These aromas lead to flavors of white peach, nectarine, and fresh raspberry with lingering notes of lavender and Granny Smith apples. The weight is delicate and light with a subtle creaminess to balance enticing racy acidity.
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.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.