While I enjoy rosé year round, there is no denying how refreshing and fun they can be in warmer weather. Generally, I prefer Provencal-style pinks, but it is fun to try a wide-range of styles from a variety of grapes. For light lunches and picnics, for example, I often opt for an off-dry Rosé d’Anjou from the Loire Valley. I generally stay away from ‘blush’ wines, not out of snobbishness or even a dislike of the sweetness, but because I find them out of balance. I go to enough receptions, however, that I can still try some of the more popular brands of ‘blush’ wines without having to pay for the privilege.
PoiZ Wine Estate is a new label, which has just released its inaugural vintage (all from Monterey County), includes this 2009 Rosé of Sangiovese. The winemaker is Robert Brower, from the family which operates Chateau Julien. Despite the low alcohol, I was hoping for an off-dry pink, along the lines of the above-mentioned Rosé d’Anjou. The website, however, clearly calls this a blush wine, despite the name on the label. Here’s a glimpse at my tasting notes:
Light reddish pink color. There is a strawberry candy nose, which translates fully into the sweet strawberries upfront. While it is more colorful than most blushes, this definitely falls into the ‘blush,’ not ‘off-dry’, style. Fortunately, the wine’s sweetness is balanced by decent acidity, and while the strawberry carries over into the finish, there are also interesting watermelon notes on that finish. The finish has a good ‘hang time,’ certainly longer than most blushes. In short, this is a ‘serious’ blush wine, superior to the vast majority of the category.
Score: 86
PoiZ Wine Estate is a new label, which has just released its inaugural vintage (all from Monterey County), includes this 2009 Rosé of Sangiovese. The winemaker is Robert Brower, from the family which operates Chateau Julien. Despite the low alcohol, I was hoping for an off-dry pink, along the lines of the above-mentioned Rosé d’Anjou. The website, however, clearly calls this a blush wine, despite the name on the label. Here’s a glimpse at my tasting notes:
Light reddish pink color. There is a strawberry candy nose, which translates fully into the sweet strawberries upfront. While it is more colorful than most blushes, this definitely falls into the ‘blush,’ not ‘off-dry’, style. Fortunately, the wine’s sweetness is balanced by decent acidity, and while the strawberry carries over into the finish, there are also interesting watermelon notes on that finish. The finish has a good ‘hang time,’ certainly longer than most blushes. In short, this is a ‘serious’ blush wine, superior to the vast majority of the category.
Score: 86
Pairings:
With 10.5% alcohol, this makes a decent picnic/lunch time wine if you want something on the sweeter side. Also, fruity off-dry-to-sweet pink wines, when they have decent acidity (as this does), often pair just as well (if not better) with Asian cuisine as the off-dry-to-sweet whites that are often suggested. Because of the sweetness and powerful fruit in this wine, you might want to at least pair this with cheese, rather than having it by itself.
With 10.5% alcohol, this makes a decent picnic/lunch time wine if you want something on the sweeter side. Also, fruity off-dry-to-sweet pink wines, when they have decent acidity (as this does), often pair just as well (if not better) with Asian cuisine as the off-dry-to-sweet whites that are often suggested. Because of the sweetness and powerful fruit in this wine, you might want to at least pair this with cheese, rather than having it by itself.
The facts:
2009 (Inaugural Vintage)
Region: USA, California, Monterey County
Grape: Sangiovese
Producer Website: http://poizwineestate.com/
$20.00, 10.5% abv
2009 (Inaugural Vintage)
Region: USA, California, Monterey County
Grape: Sangiovese
Producer Website: http://poizwineestate.com/
$20.00, 10.5% abv
Great reading your stuff on your blog!...see you in a few weeks. Your favorite bro-in law-Eric
ReplyDeleteWhere Can I buy your wines? I have searched high and low for the PoiZ rose'
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