Shinn Estate Vineyards
2007 Rosé, Estate(North Fork of Long Island)
I respect any winery that thinks enough of rosé to make rosé for rosé's sake — rather than as an afterthought. This time of year especially, I’m glad for wineries that put their all into these versatile, food-friendly wines. Rosé comes in many shapes, sizes and weights. Some taste more like white wines with a little coloring. Shinn Estate Vineyards' 2007 Rosé ($15), on the other hand, is the opposite end of the spectrum.
It’s a pale red wine really. It's unique both for how it's made and the way that it shows actual varietal character. Many rosés are either the result of blending or of bleeding juice off juice to intensify red wines, but Shinn grows a specific clone of Merlot specifically for the production of this wine each year.
A medium pink, it’s medium bodied and offers briar, strawberry, watermelon and a faintly buttery note on both the nose and the palate. Dry, but fruity, and with a little noticeable skin tannin, this is a rosé to enjoy with a wide range of foods. Think barbeque chicken, think grilled salmon, think burgers. Heck, I tasted it with a barely rare steak over the weekend and it worked surprisingly well. Make sure that you don't over-chill this one. It's better just barely chilled.
Reviewed May 27, 2008 by Lenn Thompson.
Other reviewed wines from Shinn Estate Vineyards
Shinn Estate Vineyards 2005 First Fruit - Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon (North Fork of Long Island)Lenn Thompson 4/11/2006 |
The Wine
Winery: Shinn Estate Vineyards |
The ReviewerLenn Thompson writes about New York wines for Dan's Papers, |