Winemaker Notes: We in the Quady Family have always been vociferously pro-rosé. Get us in a room with some other oenophiles and we’ll argue the virtues of rosé until we’re politely asked to leave. Whether it is its unparalleled ability to refresh on a summer afternoon, or its versatility as a pairing with lighter fare, there are plenty of reasons to love rosé.
Several years ago we realized that in order to make a significant amount of really good dry Rosé in the Southern French style, we would need to plant and grow for rosé. We selected classic rosé varieties like Grenache, and planted them on their own roots in cooler sites, to encourage more vigor, later ripening, and naturally higher acidity. We pick early, at around 20B, this keeps alcohols low. Early picked Grenache adds the “citrus skin” notes to the flavor profile. The blend varies slightly from vintage to vintage, depending on the ripening patterns and yields of the various sites. The 2017 blend is approximately 55.1% Grenache, 39.2% Syrah, 3.5% Mourvèdre, 1.6% Vermentino and 0.4% Counoise. Tasting notes include aromas of unidentified wildflowers and flavors of peach and stonefruit.
Fruit Sources: Our primary sources for Rosé are all vineyards that we own or manage. Steelhead Run, Mae’s Vineyard and Rivercrest are all in the cooler Applegate Valley and are our source for both Grenache and Syrah. Mae’s also supplies our Mourvèdre. In the Rogue Valley, the steep, high elevation Serenade vineyard is a great source for early picked Grenache.
Fruit Handling: 98% Whole cluster or destemmed and pressed. 2% free run juice from destemmed fruit (saignee). Cold settled, acidulated (as needed) and fermented at 40-50F in stainless steel.
90 points, Wine Enthusiast.
90 points, Vinous.
89 points, Wine Spectator
Best Of Show :: 2018 Oregon Wine Experience
