2011 DEWN Not This Pink

$18.00 per bottle / $194.40 per case
$15.30 per bottle / $172.80 per case (Members)

There is pink and then there is pink. This pink wine is as different from our Vin Gris as pink and day. The Vin Gris is pale and delicate, made primarily from the lightest pressings of the delicate grenache; Not This Pink*, mourvèdre-based, is a proper rosé, with a greater degree of maceration (maybe 6 hours) on the skins before saigner (or bleeding). Robustly, almost luridly colored, this is not a pink for the faint of heart. This is a wine with real body, presence, even, dare I say, a bit of tannin. You can consume it this summer, but it will also handsomely repay cellaring, and will be great next summer and the summer after that.

The wine is fragrant—watermelon, cassis and dominantly blackberry, not just the fruit but the leaf as well, indeed the whole bush. You’re in the underbrush here, the garrigue. While this wine is nominally pink in color, use it as you would a light-bodied red and serve with dishes that have a bit of fat. It would be a natural foil for barbecued ribs, or even classic steak with béarnaise. Additionally, fruits with a slightly sweet, but utterly bright character are a good match to this wine; a stone fruit-laced vegetable tagine would be lovely.

* With apologies to Philip Levine

Vital Statistics:
Varietal Composition: 50% mourvèdre, 28% syrah, 22% cinsault
Appellation: California
Alcohol by Volume: 11.9%
TA: 5.4 g/L
pH: 3.51
Production: 357 cases
Serving Temp: 56-58º F
Cellaring: Drink upon release (May 2012), 2-4 years ageability