During summer months, the mountain climate of Lake County sees hot daytime temperatures, yet the vines are able to recover from the heat of the day and respire at night due to cool coastal breezes, which are pulled across the Mayacamas mountain range in the evening by the vast size of Clear Lake. On the eastern side of the lake, Long Valley (the newest Lake County AVA) is tucked into the hills near the remnants of several dormant volcanoes. Here the vines thrive in the rich, fertile volcanic soils, and are lavishly bathed in the hot afternoon sun, yet still cooled at night. This distinguishing combination of factors (mountain elevations, fertile soils, hot days and cool nights) all work in concert to create a unique terroir that allows us to emulate the beautifully delicate Rosés of Provence at 12.5% alcohol – showcasing crisp, red fruit flavors with refreshingly vibrant acidity.
The Zinfandel, Grenache and Syrah fruit for our Rosé were hand-picked from vineyards on the eastern edge of Lake County. We initiated picks when the grapes were between 19-22° Brix and then pressed the whole clusters with just enough pressure to give the wine a beautiful pale, salmon color. This wine is a blend of 53% Zinfandel and 43% Grenache from the eastern hills of Lake County, with 4% Syrah added to round out the wine with another layer of complexity and increased texture. This vintage was aged and fermented in stainless steel tanks for a period of 6 months before being clarified, racked and filtered for bottling.
“I’m a big believer that Rosé can be just as great as any other wine if it is made with care and intention. When I’m in the mood for Rosé I’m looking for something fun, refreshing and drinkable. This Rosé is definitely all of those things and more. The Syrah helps to give the wine a strawberry fruit aroma and flavor and helps it hold onto some really beautiful acidity. Other flavors of lemon zest, apricot and watermelon follow suit, rounding the wine into a menagerie of delicate fruit. However, the secret ingredient is the head- trained Grenache which gives the wine a savory impression that makes this Rosé both mouthwatering and exciting. Like biting into that first luscious strawberry of the season.” – Scott Kirkpatrick
The 2023 harvest was one of the latest in recent memory, with the first bins coming in almost three weeks behind what is customarily normal for us due to cooler temperatures during spring and summer. Winter brought an unusual amount of rain, along with cold weather and wet soils that delayed and then extended the bloom period. Veraison began around late July and proceeded slowly. The cooler growing period has allowed the grapes to mature gradually and also produced healthy canopies and increased vine health. In the past year, Lake County saw a dramatic reversal going from severe drought conditions to one of the wettest winters on record and the deepest Sierra Nevada snowpack in 40 years. We are thrilled to see our beloved Clear Lake full again for the first time in a while. Overall, 2023 will be known for being a high quality vintage with wines exhibiting beautiful flavors, outstanding balance and vibrant acidity.
