2014 Waxwing, Rose of Pinot Noir, Blair Vineyard, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County.
Scott Sisemore’s Rose of Pinot Noir from the Blair Vineyard is a bright and savory pink wine that has lots of zing and is almost severely austere, but still delivers fresh fun. The 2014 Waxwing Rose is a lovely orange/salmon pink in the glass with loads of spice, mineral and wet stones, it is very muted fruit wise with vivid citrus, light watermelon, rose water and a shock of dusty black pepper. As it opens you get a bit of sour cherry and strawberry plus a lot of tangy herbs in this tart mouth watering Rose, it has a much more European feel than you’d expect from a California pink and it goes much better with food than on it’s own, I must say it took a few sips, even glasses to build a fondness for this one, though in the end I admire the effort and it certainly has a niche to fill. Sisemore is turning out some lovely and well crafted wines under the Waxwing label and I do love his Pinot Noir and Syrah offering very much, and recommend searching them out, this rose comes of the Blair Vineyard, which is in the Arroyo Seco area just south east of the Santa Lucia Highlands with cool fog and wind influence set on chalky soils, gravel, silt and sand, it was picked especially for making Rose at low Brix, though real alcohol does get to 13%, and it ends up a complex and zesty Pink. Only 86 Cases were made, this one is mostly sold direct from Waxwing, and it should drink vigorously for a year or so, best right now and with cuisine and very cold.
($20 Est.) 88-91 Points, grapelive