WBW #9 – Rosé
Wednesday, May 11th, 2005
This is my second Wine Blog Wednesday which was instigated by Len Thompson at Lenndevours. This installment is being hosted by the very essence of pinkness, Becks and Posh. (I had to fight the temptation to post this entire entry in a pink font…) Their selection this month is the much-maligned Rosé and I can certainly attest to having had my share of horrid, over-sweet, mediocre pink wines.
It was with some trepidation that I approached the Rosé theme but back in January, a friend of mine, Marc Reyes, joined the ranks of the cellarcrew at Saintsbury. Barely a week into the job, he stopped by my office with an offering from one of his first assignments; the bottling of a pink wine! I had to express surprise as I have long been a fan of the Saintsbury line of Pinots but had no idea they produced a Vin Gris, the French name given to a Pinot Rosé. I thanked him and added it to the rack of wines waiting for a hot summer day, but little did I realize that a more opportune moment would arise!
After a few days of hail and rain, the sun came out here in Napa and the perfect weather accompanied the opening of my 2004 Saintsbury Vin de Gris of Pinot Noir. With a Vincent van Gogh-like painting as the label, there is a "signature" on the artwork in Vincent’s script claiming Vincent Vin Gris as the artist. Knowing the Saintsbury love of art, I found the label quite appropriate. The color of the wine is decidedly the dark, rich tone of a good quality pink tourmaline gemstone, with salmon colors to the edge. Not too fluorescent at all.
The aroma was a bit of an enigma. Having taken the wine straight from the fridge, its chill was obviously masking any potential smells. Very hard to detect, but ultimately, some faint strawberry began to appear and then an aroma that exists in a freshly washed plum that is just beginning to enter your mouth.
At very well chilled, the mouth entry is decidedly clean and crisp, not the sickly sweet or white zin-like saccharine, sugary sensation many affiliate with Rosés. The distinct flavors were almost as illusive as the aromas, however the strawberry pronounced itself with delicacy and charisma. An insinuation of rose, floral, and lavender qualities appeared on the finish. I was pleasantly surprised, finding the wine balanced and easily quaffable, but at 13.5%, realized I could drink it way too fast for my own good. Slowing down, the wine warmed up and more classic Pinot qualities of fresh fruit came through, but not necessarily in a beneficial manner. I really, really liked this wine and at $10.99 a bottle, I will definitely buy more for summer barbecues. But I will make sure that it is very cold when served.