When it comes to American rosés, Pinot Noirs tend to be our favorites.
Year in and year out, the Stoller Pinot Noir Rosé from the Chehalem mountains is one of the very best – and this newly released 2021 is especially lovely…which is why we can’t keep it in stock.
This wine always gets outstanding reviews from everyone – and though there’s no press yet for this just released 2021, I’m sure it will be good.
The winery says:
Rosé has been a cornerstone of our production for more than a decade. Comprised of various clones of Pinot Noir, we intentionally craft our Rosé to be balanced and bright. Whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel, our 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Rosé leaps out of the glass with aromatics of pomelo, hood strawberry and white nectarine, followed by flirtatious notes of wet stone and uncut grass. The palate is a taut jolt of citrus and dried flowers illuminated by an electric, juicy acidity and a lingering finish of white tea and lime pith.
The 2021 growing season was warmer than average in the Willamette Valley, producing beautifully ripe fruit with vibrant flavors. A dry spring led to lingering rain showers during bloom, which reduced the yield in some blocks. Then, an abnormal heatwave spread across the valley, with temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, the fruit prospered as high temperatures occurred between bloom and véraison when berries were hard and less sensitive to damage. Temperatures tapered off prior to harvest, with warm days and cool nights, which allowed the fruit to ripen at an even and slower pace. Quick yet seemingly smooth, harvest started on August 21 with little to no breaks until we finished on September 26. The resulting wines are balanced with focused flavors, stunning fruit, gorgeous vibrancy, and incredible aging potential.
It's also only 12.5% alcohol, with a wonderfully low pH of 3.19. (Pretty incredible for such a warm, ripe year.)
Vinepair rates this 92 points, saying:
Rosé of Pinot Noir is officially part of our American pink culture. Every year, more of them arrive at our offices and we continue to love the results. It has bright, fat, and juicy strawberry aromas on the nose, but this wine is all about the texture. It’s a rosé on the lighter side with a good grip on the palate and it’s the concentration of fruit that makes this wine a winner. The acidity is vibrant making it so mouthwatering. It’s fat, round, juicy, and very balanced.
Simply put, one of Oregon’s finest rosés – and surely the only one of this quality at anywhere near this price.
