The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Santa Barbara County

Varietal   Pinot Noir

Retail Price   $18

ABV   13.5%

Score   5 Stars/97 points

In the Glass

Brilliant salmon color with hints of ruby.

The nose is quite floral with waves of fresh, ripe berries and a hint of mineral and citrus zest.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush, fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, strawberry, semi-tart red cherry, and plum with accents of mineral, citrus, and cranberry.

It's perfectly balanced with a ripe, full center and vibrant acidty.

Cool Factor

I'm a sucker for a well made rosé and this one certainly fits the bill.

Value Grade

It's absolutely brilliant, could not be better so for under $20 it's a value in my book.

Analysis

Made with 100% Pinot Noir grown in four different vineyard locations in both the Santa Maria Valley (3) and the Los Alamos Valley. These are vineyards that are well suited for growing Pinot Noir. This wine also features four different clones of Pinot Noir, two are clones long used in California and two are recent imports from Burgundy. This terrific rosé has the heart of great French rosé that feature vibrant fruit with a great dose of refreshing acidity and crisp mineral notes. Fewer than 600 cases of this wine were made.

How to Enjoy

This wine needs nothing more than a glass but it’s great with smoked salmon or shrimp cocktail.