2024 Joyce Vineyards, Rosé, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County.
The first American wine of the 2024 vintage for me is the Joyce Rosé, made from Grenache Noir and Gamay Noir grown on stony soils in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County, influenced by the cool Pacific and cool vintage, it is bursting with electric energy and ultra bone dry crispness! Winemaker Russell Joyce, who is one of California’s most committed Gamay producers, loves this combo for his Rosé and it is a fabulous delicately whisper pink hue in the glass and mineral driven on the fresh vibrant light framed palate with ruby grapefruit, sour cherry, strawberry water and crushed brambly raspberry fruits, along with saline, wet stones, wild herbs, a hint of rosewater and tart watermelon. This zest Rosé is loaded with zingy acidity and is great with mussels, claims, oysters and sashimi, it also makes for a low alcohol aperitif and palate refresher. The Gamay and Grenache play a ying and yang balancing act here with the high acid Gamay being tamed slightly by the more fruit and body of the Grenache, making a very unique California dry pink to enjoy young. The latest GSM at Joyce is another under the radar favorite of mine and all of the Joyce wines are exceptionally well priced and easy on the wallet.
Over the years, Joyce has championed the Arroyo Seco zone and from Riesling, Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc to Rhône and Burgundy varietals, he’s shown some of region’s potential, he says, the rocky soils, strong winds and heavy marine influence define the wines here. He adds, that he believes the wines should be a reflection of the terroir and not the cellar. To achieve that goal he is pursuing all organic farming practices and practicing sustainability in all aspects of his production, going on he feels that is imperative the showcase the very best quality and true sense of place. Joyce tries to avoid all additives, again explaining that he thinks that’s the best way to have greatest expression of terroir possible. There’s an exceptional clean and dynamic quality and character to all of the Joyce bottlings, he employed lots of inox primary fermentations, even with his native yeast fermentation, and there’s almost no new wood used here, everything is about purity and vivid flavors, as seen here in this brisk and refreshing Summer quaffer, that is available in magnums too. There’s a bunch of exciting things coming from Joyce and his red Gamay bottlings have a cult like following, but there’s also a very intriguing set of single vineyard, small lot, Pinot Noirs under his Russell Joyce Collection label that are worth searching out too.
($25 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive