2009 Lee Family Farm Rose

Rosé is one of our favorite spring releases, great fruit flavors and racy acidity are cleansing and refreshing. The wine is very enjoyable and easy to drink during the long days of spring and summer. These grapes are sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands and the Monterey appellation; including our Double L Vineyard and Garys’ Vineyard.

The 2009 vintage started slow; cool, wet weather in late spring delayed the fruit by 5 – 10 days. August was more temperate, with less fog than normal, increasing sugar levels but not necessarily flavor. October’s “Fall Effect” brought cool nights and shorter days with moderate heat. This change allowed flavors to fully develop with balanced acidity.

Lee Family Farm Rosé is produced in the saigneé method, where juice is bled off the skins of red grapes just before fermentation begins. This lightly colored juice is transferred into a stainless steel tank for fermentation, yielding a wine with round fruit flavors and refreshing acidity, which is bright and ready to drink young. In 2009 our Rosé is a blend of 53% Pinot Noir, 31% Grenache and 16% Syrah.

The youthful fruit flavors and refreshing acidity of our ’09 Rosé make for a great wine to enjoy during long lunches and hot afternoons. Lively aromas of strawberries, pomegranates, passion fruit and lavender are followed by a crisply flavored palate with cranberries, cherries and citrus. Bright acidity makes this one of the best food wines; try with a Cobb salad, crab cakes and fried calamari or just about any fish or poultry dish…