Matthiasson says:
Subtle fruits, salty minerality, and refreshing acidity. This year, the blend is Grenache, Mourvèdre, Counoise (a little-known grape from France’s Rhône Valley) and Barbera. The Grenache is for texture, the Mourvèdre for minerality, the Counoise for fruitiness, and the Barbera for brightness.
The only professional critic to review this so far, Jancis Robinson, rates it Matthiasson’s best vintage ever, saying:
Palest provençal pink. Delightfully fresh aromas – white strawberry, white peach and fresh pea tendrils with just a bit of crunch to them. High, bright acidity with a pop of redcurrant and a long saline and mineral finish. This wine makes me long for summer sunshine and fresh crunchy veg – perhaps some prosciutto to go along with it.
It was also the least expensive (and only American) wine to make the Luxist list of “Top Five Rosés of the Year.” They said:
Considered by many to be one of California’s great wine-makers and highly renowned for his white wines, Steve Matthiasson began experimenting with rosé using an assemblage of Syrah, Grenache, Mouvèdre, and Counoise. The grapes that go into the blend are specifically cultivated for rosé – they grow the vines to maintain the fruit’s juiciness, and harvest early to capture vibrancy and brightness. The vineyards are farmed organically and grapes are pressed whole-cluster. The result is a complex and enchantingly versatile wine which pairs effortlessly with almost any dish and makes the perfect drink year round.
As perfect as California rosé – or really rosé anywhere – gets.
And I especially love that Matthiasson gets this much character and flavor at only 11.5% alcohol!
