Exploring the Elegance
Rosé of Pinot Noir
Rosé wines have experienced a renaissance in recent years, capturing the hearts of wine enthusiasts with their versatility, vibrant flavors, and refreshing characteristics. Among the myriad of rosé offerings, Rosés of Pinot Noir from Oregon's renowned Willamette Valley stand out as a gem, showcasing the elegance and finesse inherent to this grape variety.
Here at Domaine Roy & fils, we feel like Rosé wines remind us of the hum of harvest encapsulated in a bottle, always brimming with energy. It is not unlike the feeling of early spring. The anticipation of longer days, warm evenings, and the Valley coming back to life after another lengthy winter. However, Rosé wine can be a popular and delightful option for wine lovers year-round. After all, when it comes to making Rosé, there are many stylistic directions to select from. From intensely colored and concentrated to light and delicate, there is truly something for everyone in the elegant world of Rosé.
The Essence of Pinot
Luckily for us, Pinot Noir, a finicky varietal with a challenging nature, thrives in the cool-climate terroir of the Willamette Valley. Our region's unique combination of volcanic and sedimentary soils, diverse microclimates, and meticulous viticulture practices creates an ideal environment for cultivating Pinot Noir grapes with expressive flavors and balanced acidity.
The Willamette Valley’s distinctive terroir and climate contribute to the quality of wines produced here, which are ideal for growing Pinot Noir grapes. The region’s cool climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly, yielding wines with balanced acidity and complex flavors. The volcanic and sedimentary soils of the Valley also play a significant role in the wine’s taste, imparting unique minerality and texture. The combination of these unique factors makes the Willamette Valley a fantastic place for producing Rosé of Pinot noir.
Varietal Character
The process of crafting Rosé wines from Pinot Noir involves a delicate balance between achieving a beautiful color, preserving the grape's inherent qualities, and creating a wine that is both refreshing and complex. Winemakers in the Willamette Valley take pride in their meticulous approach to ensure that the Rosé of Pinot Noir reflects the character of the region.
One of the alluring aspects of Rosé of Pinot Noir is its stunning color. Ranging from pale salmon to vibrant pink, these wines display a visual feast that foreshadows the sensory experience to come. The hue is influenced by factors such as grape skin contact time and winemaking techniques, giving each wine its unique personality. Learn more about our craftsmanship below and see why our Rosés have such distinct hues.
Rosé of Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley often showcases aromas of red fruit, berries, citrus, floral notes, and a subtle minerality. On the palate, they bring a delightful interplay of fruit, framed by a crisp acidity that provides structure and balance. The finish is often lingering and nuanced, inviting us to savor each sip.
Nuanced Terroir
We now invite you to explore the different expressions of our Rosés of Pinot Noir, as each of our estates brings its unique interpretation of style, showcasing the nuanced terroir of our vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
We produce Rosé from our two estate vineyards, the Iron Filbert vineyard in Dundee Hills and the Quartz Acorn vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton. Our Dundee Hills site is characterized by its volcanic Jory soil, which is well-draining and rich in minerals. The area is known for producing wines with a distinct red fruit character, elegant structure, and vibrant acidity. Our Yamhill-Carlton site, on the other hand, has a mix of sedimentary and volcanic soils, which tends to produce wines with bolder flavors and structure. Wines from there often exhibit dark fruit flavors, earthy undertones, and a rich, velvety texture.
The Rosé made from our Dundee Hills Estate is fresh and youthful. For the 2022 vintage, the nose reveals notes of bright apricot, mandarin orange peel, and yellow peach. The palate is crisp and acid-driven, showing true to the terroir of our Iron Filbert Vineyard’s Jory soils. Our Yamhill-Carlton Rosé is darker in color, with more depth and concentration. The 2021 vintage is aromatically explosive with white peach, hood strawberry, and Meyer lemon. Both wines have brilliant aromas, fresh flavors, and balanced acidity, making them refreshing, food-friendly, and a popular choice for pairing with various dishes. They’re everything we want from a Rosé, like a warm spring day in a bottle to brighten the last days of winter.
Craftsmanship
For the 2022 Dundee Hills Rosé, we sorted the fruit early in the morning and foot treaded half (whole clusters). We left the fruit on the skins for 24 hours before pressing, then racked the juice into a stainless tank. Full primary fermentation occurred in stainless, before moving it to neutral French oak barrels for secondary fermentation and aging.
In contrast, for our 2021 Yamyill-Carlton Rosé, the clusters remain whole and intact while sorted by hand and loaded directly into our press. Once pressed, the juice settled into a stainless tank, before barreling down for fermentation and aging in neutral French oak barrels.
Versatility in Pairing
More than most wines, rosé is sipped and enjoyed by itself. But one of the strengths of Rosé lies in its versatility when it comes to food pairing, and Rosé of Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley is no exception. Its bright acidity and fruit-forward profile make it a perfect companion for a variety of dishes, from light salads and seafood to grilled poultry and even heartier fare like pasta and pork.
In the world of wine, Rosé of Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley stands as a testament to the region's commitment to quality and the artistry of winemaking. With its captivating color, aromatic allure, and versatile palate, these wines offer a delightful journey through the essence of Pinot Noir in a refreshingly elegant form. Whether enjoyed on a sunny afternoon or paired with a gourmet meal, Rosé of Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley is a celebration of the harmony between grape and terroir.
For the Love of Pinot: A February Tasting
Treat yourself to a luxurious experience when you join us on a wine tasting this month! Enjoy a curated selection of exceptional wines featuring the nuances of Rosé and Pinot, complemented by a luxurious salmon roe pairing.
