2017 Field Recordings, Rosé of Valdiguie, French Camp Vineyard, Paso Robles.
Andrew Jone’s Field Recordings is one of the coolest places to visit in Paso Robles, set in the Tin City industrial park and this micro winery produces some seriously fun stuff, like this exciting 100% Valdiguie pink wine, plus other rarities including Tempranillo, Tannat, a series of bubbles and canned wines and Chenin Blanc. Mostly known for their California red blend Fiction, I have enjoyed lots of these Field Recordings offerings, most recently trying their super juicy Tannat red and this Valdiguie Rosé that is fruity, but mostly dry and crisp with ruby grapefruit, a touch of raspberry, tart cherry and strawberry fruits along with a hint of dried herbs and a steely mineral element, and while a year or so behind it is still drinking remarkably fresh and vibrant showing no signs of dullness and oxidation at this stage. There is always something intriguing to discover at Field Recordings and Jones focuses on richly flavored wines that are well priced quaffers!
The Valdiguie grapes, once thought to be Gamay and sometimes known as Napa Gamay, but from a separate varietal that originally came from the southwest of France, were sourced from the French Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles and winemaker Andrew Jones did a quick whole cluster press and then a cool ferment with everything, including aging in stainless steel with just 4 months in the steel barrels before bottling. The super pale, slightly peachy/salmon, colored Rosé of Valdiguie made for a nice sunny companion on a warm evening following a big rainstorm and it went great with left over Pizza, proving enough fruity in character to cover the tomato sauce and mix of toppings and was easy to sip. Jones, who is a famous nurseryman in the Paso and Santa Barbara area has a gifted touch for wine and knows where to find good grapes with professional insight into many of the local vineyards, some that he helped plant and get material for. Every vintage brings all kinds of totally new blends and bottlings, so it is always a new experience when the Field Recordings wines come out.
($26 Est.) 86 Points, grapelive