Something to Wine About: 2018 Brut Rose from Priest Ranch Wines
It’s that time of year again to pop the bottles, get the confetti, write your resolution list — and que up Auld Lang Syne. But what bottle should you pop open?
That depends on a lot of things. One: your budget; two: those who will be enjoying it with you. And third, of course, is taste.
If $60 fits into your budget, you may want to consider the 2018 Brut Rose from Priest Ranch Wines. This is an extremely dry blush sparkling wine from Napa Valley California. The tasting notes describing the color in the glass as salmon do not do it justice. It is a stunning pink and really just a shade more vibrant than salmon, almost a jewel tone.
There is strawberry fruit on the nose, but what truly strikes you is how exceptionally clean the nose is due to being aged 24 months in stainless steel. Depending on one’s palate, this intentional absence of oak can be celebrated by its exceptionally pristine flavor. There is more strawberry on the nose than on the palate. The flavor on the palate is predominantly lemon and apricot with very light, clean, notes of shortbread.
Again, the finish is extremely dry with good acidity. The wine is crafted in the traditional méthode Champenoise where the second fermentation occurs in the bottle. This wine will pair beautifully with your appetizers, New Year’s Eve party foods, and seafood.
If you prefer to save a bit of money and are looking for something a bit less dry, you might want to consider the array of wines from Piper Sonoma, retailing in the $20 range. A quick budget tip: Without sacrificing quality, you might want to space out the expense while still pouring some wonderful wines. Have a bottle of 2018 Brut Rose from Priest Ranch Wines on hand to greet guests and to toast the New Year, but have a few bottles of Piper Sonoma wines to drink throughout the evening.
