2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir

The charm of a lovely dry Rosé provides wine drinkers with a wonderful excuse to sit outside and enjoy the tradition of Rosé on the terrace or balcony. Knittle Vineyard is about a mile southwest of the Beau Terroir Vineyard in Carneros, on a nice stony terrace with a gentle slope. For a change, 2021 was a normal growing year, though with some hot spells. We brought in the first part of the Pinot Noir on August 27, at just shy of 20 Brix on a nice foggy morning. These grapes were held in a cold chai for a few days before pressing, and the rest of the fruit was harvested on August 30. Both sets of grapes were whole cluster pressed together. The carefully settled juice was fermented with Actiflore Rosé yeast and cold fermented in a stainless steel tank. At dryness, we put 8% into neutral French oak barrels and 92% into stainless steel barrels for some resting time, then it was racked and bottled under screwcap. Made in a dry style with crisp clarity and purity, it has a faint blush of pink color. The 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir offers aromas of peach and strawberry with vanilla and orange blossom. The palate is crisp and dry, with bright citrus and strawberry flavors that lead to a clean and refreshing finish.