Winemaker Notes
Pale pink and salmon hues. Fruit forward notes highlighting peach, strawberry, clementine and grated orange zest with subtle nuances of ripe cherry and watermelon. Floral notes of white flowers and rose petals. A small bit of salinity on the nose, hinting at pink Himalayan Sea salt. Green apple, watermelon, white peach and kiwi fruit notes with a sneaky soft acidity on the front of the palate and powerful fruit/acid crisp lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Caraccioli Cellars Rosé of Pinot Noir is excellent and true-to-type. TASTING NOTES: This wine is frisky, fresh, and bright. Pair its aromas and flavors of red fruits, chalk, and savory spices with fresh salmon and tuna sashimi. (Tasted: May 24, 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.
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.