It's October! Which means it's time to enjoy our Halloween Edition of our Rosé Club!
Channing Daughters 2017 Rosato Merlot Petillant Naturel $23/btl
Located in New York State, Channing Daughter’s Winery spans a beautiful plot of land in Bridgehampton that contains 28 acres of vines, a small winery and a tasting room, plus the family home. About 50% of the their grapes are sourced from special sites on the North Fork of Long Island. With 10 different varietal expressions currently in production, Channing Daughters is gaining notoriety for their “Pet-Nats,” or Petillant Naturel. The wines are made by a process known as “Methode Ancesteale,” and according to the winemaker, “this is how it works... we hand harvest the grapes, whole cluster press them and settle the juice. We started wild/ambient fermentations in small stainless steel tanks and watched the ferments very carefully until they were at their tail-end. Then we coarsely filtered the wine and bottled it (with no sulfur dioxide or stabilization) in sparkling wine bottles closed with a crown cap to contain the carbon dioxide being given off by the continuing fermentation in bottle, trapping the gas in solution and making the wine sparkling. The wines are also not disgorged like traditional method sparklers and Champagnes… so you will see some sediment in the bottle from yeast lees and tartrate crystals. This is part of the charm, rusticity and deliciousness of this style of wine. Embrace the slightly cloudy nature when pouring out the end of the bottle… it is yummy (and arguably good for you), so bottoms up!”
The winemaker explains further, “these wines are referred to as Petillant because sometimes there is a bit less pressure than in a bottle of Champagne. Ours contain just between 3-6 bar whereas Champagne and other sparkling wines have about six bar. We recommend you drink these Pet-Nat’s very cold and suggest you drink them in larger in white wine glasses as opposed to flutes to take advantage of their lovely primary aromas and delicately creamy mousse. We also suggest you drink these wines sooner than later. While they will develop beautifully and develop autolysis like Champagne from sitting on their lees, they are just too irascible to not drink in their youth. Reminiscent of Prosecco and Moscato’s and Champagne and Sparkling wines all at once our Pet-Nat’s are delicious unique creatures that elicit tons of smiles and great pleasure.”
The 2017 Rosato Merlot Petillant Naturel is a gorgeous deep electric ruby pink color. It’s intoxicating aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, plum and watermelon are accompanied by Channing Daughters telltale minerality. With a touch of sweetness, plus great texture and balance as well as a luxurious feeling of bubbles, the Rosato is irresistibly delicious. An incredibly versatile wine, you can pair it with just about anything!
10.5% alc • 220 cases produced
2017 Angels and Cowboys Rosé, California $16/btl or $172.80/case
Launched in 2014, Angels & Cowboys is a collaboration between the founder of Cannonball Wines, Yoav Gilat, and Northern California graphic designer Michael Schwab. The Angels & Cowboys journey began with a sentimental namesake, a bold, mysterious icon and an appreciation for down to earth wines. These elements drove the vision to create an offering of wines that indulge the lover, the trailblazer and the rule breaker in all of us. Angels & Cowboys are hand crafted, proprietary blends sourced from some of Sonoma County's most prestigious growers. Our winemaking team draws on traditional as well as progressive winemaking methods to achieve our standout style of blends.
Angels & Cowboys Rosé is a Grenache based rosé made with winemaking techniques similar to those in the South of France, the epicenter for Rosé. We harvest grapes from three Sonoma County AVAs; Los Carneros, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Valley. Grapes are picked at 21 ° brix and a pH below 3.35, and this early harvest retains the natural acidity, creating a wine style both racy and ethereal. The grapes were hand-harvested and whole cluster pressed to minimize color extraction and create a wine of unrelenting delicacy. Once the juice is pressed from the grapes, it undergoes a slow, cool fermentation. Upon completion of fermentation, the Rosé is aged on its yeast lees for a little over two months, creating a bit more depth and weightier mouthfeel.
Angels & Cowboys Rosé is the color of a champagne diamond. It has delicate aromas suggesting light mandarin, pomegranate blossoms and wildflowers. On the palate, the wine is lively and racy with flavors of tart cherries and minerals. The A&C Rosé displays vibrant acidity, freshness in the mid-palate, and great delicacy in the finish. This wine is to enjoy with or without food accompaniment.
This dry Rosé is one of those rare wines that work well with vegetable dishes and spicy ethnic foods. Enjoy it with roast chicken, salmon, seared tuna, summer salads and any sushi from vegetables to strong fish, crab cakes, shrimp cocktails and ceviche.
Cover Photo via @angelsandcowyboyswines
