2017 El Dorado Rosé - Skinner Vineyards

Ruby grapefruit, pink peonies, freshly picked strawberry. Golden nectarine, dried grass, cider apple. Hibiscus and floral perfume, river stones and clean minerality. Watermelon juice spruced up with a squeeze of lemon and fresh basil leaf served up in a tall glass over ice. Gorgeous peachy hues shimmer and shine with every swirl. Light, lean, and dry. This 2017 El Dorado Rosé by Skinner Vineyards is a clean, complex, and refreshing rosé perfect for any time of year.

Rosé as a category gets unfairly pigeon-holed into being considered a summer-only beverage. In reality well made pink wine can be an excellent choice to sip on no matter the season. Lighter, fruitier, mineral rosés pair wonderfully with appetizers and hors d'oeuvres at holiday parties and should not be forgotten just because it's cold outside. This bottling, crafted by Skinner Vineyards using fruit from the El Dorado sub-appellation in California's Sierra Foothills, is just that kind of wine. This rosé was crafted from dedicated fruit (no saignée) in true Provence style using primarily Grenache blended with Mourvedre, Counoise, and Cinsault. It is fresh with juicy acidity and a dry, focused attack. At 12.9% ABV this stuff treads lightly and avoids that weird syrupy alcohol note that plagues many other California pinks. Regardless of whether it is July or January it’s never a bad idea to have a cold rosé in the fridge to pop, pour, and enjoy.