40 Knots Winery Rosé 2010

40 Knots

Rosé 2010

Comox, Vancouver Island, BC

$21-25 available at winery and select private liquor stores +168195

www.40knotswinery.com

It’s the last few weeks of summer, so why not enjoy it? Drink rose! We’ve earned it, after the wet and dreary spring, and lack-luster bluster of July. It’s sunny, the school-bell September countdown is on, and we have to enjoy every moment.

It’s hard not to enjoy, when you’re faced with a cheery sipper like 40 Knots Rosé. Vancouver Islands’ newest, this Comox winery has left the gate strong, propelled by a cohesive marketing and packaging program, sharp and memorable label and name, and, importantly, well tended juice.

Owners Bill and Michal Montgomery fell in love with the wind swept, sun-saturated 24 acre site when they happened upon it in 1996. To help achieve opening a winery as a second, later-life career, ex-tugboat fleet manager Bill Montgomery hired a youthful, dynamic team. Natasha Ponich, winemaker and Matt Rademakers, vineyard manager, are overseen by Canadian consulting winemaker Christine Leroux (ex-of Inniskillin Okanagan, and now advising for Quinta Ferreira, Oliver Twist, and Thornhaven). In addition to the Rosé, the winery has released Pinot Gris ($22.00), Chardonnay ($23.00) and Pinot Noir ($25.00).

The 2010 Rosé will most likely be the last in this form, dominated by Merlot (which is being replanted with a much-more Islands friendly Pinot Auxerrois). The off-dry blend is 85% Merlot, 10% Pinot Noir and 5% Chardonnay. Youthful, juicy strawberry and raspberry on the nose and palate, laced with herb tinged minerality and laden with bright and shiny acidity to buoy the residual sugar. Lingering and pleasant yellow plum finish. It would be so easy to down this on the patio in the late days of summer – which is how I recommend enjoying it. Only 60 Cases were made, so seek it out quickly – before summer, and this rosé, is gone.

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40 Knots Winery Rosé 2010

The off-dry blend is 85% Merlot, 10% Pinot Noir and 5% Chardonnay. Youthful juicyfruit strawberry and raspberry on the nose and palate, laced with herb tinged minerality and laden with bright and shiny acidity to buoy the residual sugar. Lingering yellow plum finish. It would be so easy to down this on the patio in the late days of summer – which is how I recommend enjoying it. Only 60 Cases were made, so seek it out quickly – before summer, and this rosé, is gone.