Syncline Winery : Our Wines
2008 Rosé Columbia Valley
Production: About 610 cases
Tasting Notes
Following our faith in Rhone varietals, this Rosé is in direct response to our fascination with hedonistic country wines. Immediately striking with color bordering on ripe watermelon, the aromas practically leap from the glass. A medley of different grapes yield a full satisfying dry wine: The Cinsault base gives the unmistakable aroma of rose water and violets, Grenache gives juicy strawberry and musky watermelon rind aromas and flavors, Mourvedre sends its characteristic spice to the mix, Counoise brings fresh acidity and rias serious as rosé gets.
Harvest Notes
Appellations: Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Gorge
Harvest Dates: Early September mid October
Varietals: 44%Cinsault 30%Grenache 17%Mourvedre 9%Counoise
Year Planted: Varies
Vineyards
This wine is more an exploration of the Columbia Valley than a represen- tation of any one varietal or vineyard. What is important for us lies in what each site contributes to the overall blend. Grenache is sourced from five vineyards: Milbrandt on the Wahluke Slope, McKinley Springs and Coyote Canyon in the Horse Heaven Hills, Steep Creek and McDermott in the Co- lumbia Gorge, Cinsault and Counoise are both new plantings from McKin- ley Springs Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. Mourvedre, from Coyote Canyon Vineyard is planted to a remarkable hillside in the Horse Heaven Hills.
Fermentation and Aging
The fruit is hand harvested and transported to the winery in the early morning. All fruit is de-stemmed into open top fermenters and allowed to soak overnight. The following day 10-50% of the free run juice is drained to tank and settled overnight, racked the following day to a stainless steel tank, and fermented to dryness. No malolactic fermentation or lees con- tact occurs. Sterile bottled in February.