During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, all the blogosphere and Twitterverse was abuzz with what kind of wine to pair with the big feast. My intentions were to get a little bit adventurous and open a Rhone blend or a Tempranillo. As I was shopping, though, I was once again lured by Edna Valley. This year's turkeyfest was abetted by a Grenache rosé.
Verdad Winery and Vineyard is the labor of love of Louisa Sawyer Lindquist. She happens to be the wife of Qupe's Bob Lindquist, and happens to have some pretty substantial winemaking ability of her own.
Verdad means "truth" in Spanish, and the truth is: I could hardly have made a better choice for the Thanksgiving wine - if I do say so myself. Lindquist's fascination with and love of Spanish grape varieties comes to fruition in California's Central Coast - Edna Valley, to be exact.
The Grenache grapes for Verdad rosé - Tablas Creek clone - are grown in two vineyards in Edna Valley, the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard and the Ibarra-Young Vineyard. The former is farmed biodynamically while the latter is organic. The grapes are grown specifically for rosé, and early picking results in a lower alcohol content - only 12.1% abv. Stainless steel fermentation gives the wine a pure fruit profile.
First of all, the wine is a beautiful salmon color. The nose is fabulous, showing strawberry and an herbal component. A faint cherry-candy aroma adds a festive note. On the palate, it's lip-smacking good. Strawberry, cherry and raspberry come together like a riot in the orchard. It feels so full and round in the mouth, and delivers a nice zing of lime on the finish. The cherry flavor seems to hang around the longest. The acidity is not razor-sharp, but it's healthy enough to carry turkey and stuffing crisply. I found that out the easy way - at the dinner table.
Verdad Winery and Vineyard is the labor of love of Louisa Sawyer Lindquist. She happens to be the wife of Qupe's Bob Lindquist, and happens to have some pretty substantial winemaking ability of her own.
Verdad means "truth" in Spanish, and the truth is: I could hardly have made a better choice for the Thanksgiving wine - if I do say so myself. Lindquist's fascination with and love of Spanish grape varieties comes to fruition in California's Central Coast - Edna Valley, to be exact.
The Grenache grapes for Verdad rosé - Tablas Creek clone - are grown in two vineyards in Edna Valley, the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard and the Ibarra-Young Vineyard. The former is farmed biodynamically while the latter is organic. The grapes are grown specifically for rosé, and early picking results in a lower alcohol content - only 12.1% abv. Stainless steel fermentation gives the wine a pure fruit profile.
First of all, the wine is a beautiful salmon color. The nose is fabulous, showing strawberry and an herbal component. A faint cherry-candy aroma adds a festive note. On the palate, it's lip-smacking good. Strawberry, cherry and raspberry come together like a riot in the orchard. It feels so full and round in the mouth, and delivers a nice zing of lime on the finish. The cherry flavor seems to hang around the longest. The acidity is not razor-sharp, but it's healthy enough to carry turkey and stuffing crisply. I found that out the easy way - at the dinner table.
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