2017 Drew Family Cellars “The Suitcase” Rosé, California.
Drew’s dry pink wine is 90% Syrah, 5% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre, picked between 21.5 and 22 brix, from a field blend of their Syrah along with the small amounts of Grenache and Mourvèdre that is inter planted in (the Syrah, which is Chave clone) vineyard. It’s made using direct whole cluster pressing with native yeast fermentation using 50%-50% stainless tanks and neutral French oak barrels, making for a vibrant and textured Rosé. Don’t over look this dry pink from Jason Drew, it has a serious edgy intensity and a dense form, and as I am with all of his wines, greatly impressed, his wine it gains dramatically in the glass both in terms of complexity as well as textually, and while I usually don’t like Syrah as much in Rosé guise, this stuff I absolutely love! Brilliant clear acidity, plenty of raw extract make for a mouth watering experience with a flow of bright flavors with a layered medium weight palate of cranberry, blueberry and wild strawberry fruits in that distilled essences sort way come through with a kiss of citrus, watermelon (without the overtly fruity element) and chunky mineral tones, wild herbs and florals along with a tart, high-toned and tangy cherry note that lingers. This is a Rosé that has a authentic rustic character and charm that seduces the palate and like Drew’s red wine offerings seems to really gain with air, but always has a wonderful inner bright/energy and crisp (powerful) vigor, and while it would not disappoint for easy warm pool side sipping it certainly with be much more appreciated with substance cuisine-wise, the more robust the better. This Rosé by Drew, along with the sister Albarino under “The Suitcase” label are rarities going out mainly to their mailing list, like you needed another reason to get on there list! (You definitely NEED to be on it) Drink this one over the next year, not that you need to be told that of course, because there’s no way to resist it, it’s an intriguing dry Rosé to enjoy now. If you haven’t tried Drew, it’s way past time, these are are some of California’s best wines, especially their Syrah and Pinot Noir jottings from mid elevation sites close to the ocean, on marine sedimentary soils, in the western side of the Anderson Valley and the Mendocino Ridge, these are amazing wines and exciting times for this region.
($22 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
