2016 Big Sur Vineyards, Rose, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County.
One of Carmel Valley’s recent additions, Big Sur Vineyards is a boutique family owned label with a fun and quality set of wines that are charming and fairly priced, Lenora Carey, the owner, has enlisted winemaker at I. Brand Family Winery Ryan Kobza to craft her wines, which helps show the pedigree and style. Carey suffered a huge loss last year, just as she got the tasting room open in the Carmel Valley Village, her property and small vineyard in Big Sur was destroyed by the raging fires that devastated region, though she has now got started on re-planting, and there is a lot of excitement for when those vines when they come of age in a few years. Of the current set there are a few real stand outs, Big Sur Vineyards BSV Red a Cal-Rhone cuvee of Grenache, Syrah & Petite Sirah, a gorgeous crisply dry Viognier and this seriously delectable Rose of Grenache & Cinsault, all which are attractive wines that offer value and reflects the varied terroirs of Monterey County. The 2016 Big Sur Vineyards Rose of Grenache and Cinsault comes from the rocky loam and ancient seabed soils of Arroyo Seco that adds to the dry brisk nature of this Southern France style pink that is dusty/crisp with stony/mineral tones showing a delicately pale hue and lean/bright citrus laced fruit character with grapefruit, tart cherry, strawberry, watermelon, rosewater and snappy/bitter provencal herbs. This is a wonderfully refreshing Rose that opens to a wet rock/shale and spice, but with a succulent openness, this is very Summer friendly wine to drink over the next year. Big Sur Vineyards is an under the radar winery making some solid small production stuff, check them out.
($16 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive
