Thibaud Mandet has some interesting ideas about pink wine. So many winemakers rush their rose to market as if it’s going to expire like a carton of milk. Thibaud prefers to let his rose age a bit, often longer than his red wines. In a newsletter where we are featuring some of the first wines from vintage 2022, this Clos Griotte rose was harvested in 2019 from the biodynamically-farmed Hyland Vineyard in McMinnville. The wine spent a full day with its skins to soak up a relatively deep pink color before pressing and then five months in stainless steel tanks with the lees to impart a textural element rare in rose wine: creaminess. Once bottled, the wine then had to wait three entire years for release, an agonizing wait, but one that Thibaud insists is necessary to focus the wine’s bouncy energy into a more thoughtful, elegant drink. We appreciate this wine for the fresh perspective almost as much as the pure joy of drinking it. A resonant coral pink color in the glass is the first sign that something different is about to happen. Blooming aromas of Rainier cherry, ruby grapefruit, lychee, wild strawberry, and burnt orange peel lead to a palate of strawberry, juicy cherry and violets. The texture is full bodied, creamy yet crisp, lush yet fresh, substantial yet snappy. Pair this wine with salmon, tuna, or halibut, or any sort of big fish seared over an open flame. If you take anything away from this, the next time you see a rose a couple years older than it should be, give it a try!

If this all sounds good to you, come on down to L&E on Saturday, May 6th. Thibaud Will be in house pouring this rose and a selection of his other wines from 12-4!