Winemaker Notes
This is a light, fresh style Rosé highlighting minimal skin contact with the Pinot Noir grapes, and showcasing primary aromatics and bright acidity. We make this wine using two distinct production techniques and source the fruit specifically for this program which allows for high natural acidity, low natural alcohol, and fresh fruit characteristics by picking the grapes at optimal ripeness for Rosé. Pale salmon in color, this delightfully refreshing wine displays bright aromas of green strawberry and carnation on the nose. A tight entry on the palate gives way to a subtle creaminess on the mid-palate and a focused and lingering acidity on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
High toned in flavors of freshly squeezed lemon and grapefruit, this wine opens into a world of nutty, herbal secondary characteristics that work to contrast and contribute earthiness. Lasting acidity keeps it immeasurably crisp.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Starmont Vineyards Rosé of Pinot Noir is a wine of beauty and grace. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings freshness to fore. Enjoy its excellent aromas and flavors of savory spices and red fruit with a refreshing salad of grilled chicken, romaine, and watermelon cubes. Add a smidgeon of red chile oil and pickled scallions for the perfect touch. (Tasted: July 28, 2020, 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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.