Winemaker Notes
This wine’s delicate pink and copper hue makes it a poster child for the classic ‘eye of the partridge’ color. An abundance of fruit aromas carries through to a fresh, seductive palate where flavors of pink grapefruit, ripe strawberry, watermelon and lemon rind are rounded out by an opulent and dairy-laden core. Gentle notes of fresh peach and white pepper add character. While the bright qualities of this wine approach flinty minerality, there are also rich fruit notes to balance out the firm acidity. This rosé boasts a long, satisfying finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The history Belle Glos Oeil de Perdrix goes to the Caymus' days in the late 1970s when the same wine was made on that iconic Napa Valley label. I drank my share of that wine then. The 2018 vintage has replicated the past well. TASTING NOTES: This wine is fresh, bright, and appealing. Its aromas and flavors of wild strawberries and tart citrus should make it a lovely match with fresh salmon sashimi. (Tasted: February 6, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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.