Winemaker Notes
Soft pale pink with hints of orange. Pretty aromas of strawberries and watermelon with a hint of minerality. Dry, crisp on the palate and very persistent. Fruitiness balanced with a touch of mouth-watering acidy and plenty of verve. A full-bodied wine which is a perfect spring and summer sipper. It has just enough seriousness to pair with the right foods.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This Grenache-based pink is always in the running for rosé of the year. It’s very light in the glass with aromas of delicate strawberry and crushed white rocks. The palate is a textural masterpiece, grabbing hold with chalky grip and not letting go as flavors of wild strawberry and pinched herbs show brightly.
Editors' Choice -
Vinous
The 2018 Rosé Riviera offers terrific freshness, with a bit more body and texture than has been the case in the recent past, which is not a bad thing, as the Rosé has been a touch austere. The Rosé is mostly Grenache, with some saignée and some lots seeing barrel fermentation. This is very nicely done.
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.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.