If you like your wine pink, fruity and… well… rosé, it’s that time when “rosé all day” can be a lifestyle philosophy. Plus it goes with everything, especially summer, sunshine and good times. Have you tried the 2019 Arrowleaf Rosé from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley?

Tasting Notes from Arrowleaf Cellars:

What it is

A blend of 2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Merlot made entirely with grapes grown in Lake Country, BC.

When was it grown

The 2019 vintage was a welcome return to cooler temperatures that are more in line with the long-term average. Clear skies alternated with some extended rainy periods that proved tricky during harvest but ultimately produced wines with finesse and great aromatics. The white wines produced in this year generally have less sugar and acidity than previous vintages and tend to be elegant and fresh.

How it is made

We harvest the grapes for our Rosé a little earlier than we would if we were making red wine. The goal is to have higher acidity and lower alcohol to create a lighter and fresher tasting wine. The crushed Pinot Noir grapes are given a 4 to 14h soak to extract a small amount of colour. The Merlot grapes were crushed and pressed immediately to keep the colour extraction to a minimum. The resulting lightly pink juice is fermented and treated like a white wine. It is aged on its lees in stainless for a minimum of 3 months before filtration and bottling.

How it tastes

The bouquet has aromas of strawberry, cranberry, grapefruit and rose petals. On the palate it is off-dry and balanced with fresh acidity. It presents abundant fruit flavour and a touch of minerality on the finish.

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