2016 Caraccioli Cellars, Rose of Pinot Noir, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands.
The “Limited Production” Rose of Pinot Noir from Caraccioli is a crisp refreshing pink wine that has a cool and clear Pinot Noir character with vivid detail and vibrant flavors. Caraccioli Cellars are Monterey’s only Champagne style bubbly craft producer and boutique winery with a focus on Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands, they also have a cozy little tasting lounge in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea that is a favorite with locals and tourists alike, and a place I love to visit and sip their beautiful sparkling wines, especially their vintage Brut Rose. The 2016 Caraccioli Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir is a stylish dry blush wine that comes from estate grown grapes coming off Escolle Vineyard, a set of vines next to the Sleepy Hollow 2 site in the heart of the northern and cooler part of the Highlands bench, it was planted in 2008 with clones that were suited to sparkling wines, but with a few blocks that make a luxurious and delicate still wine Pinot Noir as well. The 2016 Rose of Pinot Noir was just released and will sell out fast, it shows a bright and refreshing nature with vivid tart cherry, watermelon, liquid mineral, wet stones along with grapefruit/citrus, light herb, strawberry and a faint rose petal and lavender water. Caraccioli has done a very nice job on this Rose, it’s fun and vital as well as perfect for warm evenings and the Summer days ahead, it’s lingering fruity/juiciness make it a good choice for many food choices, it’s great with less spicy Asian fare and particularly with cured meat and lighter sea foods. Caraccioli Cellars continues to impress and improve with every new vintage with their richly opulent and decedent handcrafted Cuvee Brut and Brut Rose, plus their still wines, including this Rose of Pinot Noir.
($25 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive

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