It’s that time of year… Yes, it’s Rosé season!. With that in mind, I’ve embarked upon a series of weekly “Drink Pink!“ Rosé tastings. This week’s Rosé is the 2012 Dashe Cellars Vin Gris.
The Winery
Dashe Cellars, founded by Michael and Ann Dashe in 1996, is an urban winery located near Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. Michael Dashe is the Winemaker, and Anne Dashe is the General Manager. Between the two, they have 40-plus years experience in the wine business, including experience at some big-time wineries such as Ridge Vineyards, Far Niente, Chappellet, Schramsberg Wine Cellars in California; Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château La Dominique in France,and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand. The winery produces about 10,000 cases annually.
The Wine
From Dashe Cellars…To make this Vin Gris we “bled off” juice from tanks of Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel fruit from our Dry Creek vineyards. This technique—used in France for generations—allows us to concentrate the flavors in certain lots by reducing the amount of juice in contact with the skins.
Dashe uses native yeast to conduct fermentation. The wine is a blend of 90% Grenache, 6% Petite Sirah, and 4% Zinfandel, fermented dry in separate lots, then blended together.
My tasting note follows:
Rose colored with juicy berry, spicy pepper and a kiss of mineral aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, fresh, dry and well-balanced with strawberry, cherry and spicy pepper flavors. Medium finish. 13.9% alcohol; 107 cases produced; $16 SRP
Rating: B+:
Pair with: I love this wine with BBQ chicken. It has the weight to stand up to BBQ sauce, and the spice profile of the wine also complements the sauce. It works well as both and with food.
Other Related Posts:
- American Winery Guide: Dashe Cellars
- Wine of the Week: 2011 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Les Enfants Terribles, Heart Arrow Ranch
Sample purchased for review
Ratings Key:
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