THE VINTAGE: Drizzly days, showery days, days of driving rain: after several years of drought conditions, the thirteen inches of moisture that soaked into the parched earth prior to the 2017 harvest provided an incredibly welcome start to the growing season. Although the total rainfall was only slightly higher than our annual average, it was more than two-and-a half times greater than the meager five inches we received during each of the two preceding years. The warm, wet winter offered a very healthy start to the grapevines, encouraging them to build strong canopies. Budbreak began the third week of March, and the increased growth that followed kept Mark and his team well-occupied shaping and managing the canopy throughout the spring to maintain excellent vine balance. Like the winter, the summer that followed was warmer than average. Nonetheless, the Santa Lucia Highlands experienced their typical coastal winds and cooling morning fog. The result was that the growing season progressed nicely with excellent phenological development of the vines. A record-level heat wave surprised us in essentially all regions of California at the beginning of September. The heat prompted us to begin the harvest in some of our blocks the first week of the month. We irrigated others to maintain and support the ripening grapes amid the heat; by October 6 th, approximately a month after we began the harvest, we took in the last batch of fruit.

THE VINEYARD: This Rosé is from a blend of Pinot Noir grapes harvested from our vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The multiple vineyard sites contribute an added complexity to the wine in both aromatics and texture. The cool weather from the Santa Lucia highlands is the critical factor to maintaining the bright acidity in this rosé.

WINEMAKING: Combining the use of whole cluster pressing with saignée of Pinot Noir allowed us to create a more complex wine. This combination brings the light, crisp and elegant character with minimal phenolics from gentle whole-cluster pressing and slightly more fullness from the saignée barrels. The Lucy Rosé is fermented then aged for only three months to retain the most fresh characteristics. We utilize barrels of at least a decade in age so they are truly “neutral.” This heightens the texture while minimizing the flavor impact of the oak.

TASTING NOTES: In the glass, this beautiful wine possesses vibrant aromas of fresh rose petal, wild strawberry, cranberry, ruby grapefruit, blood orange and nectarine. Its translucent pink color was attained by a very gentle pressing of the pinot noir berries. This cuvée was sourced from our estate vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Fermentation was carried out in barrel—but specifically “neutral” oak barrels in order to develop volume on the palate without oak flavor. The result is a bright, refreshing wine finished with crisp acidity that will suit almost any occasion. The rosé shows best if served chilled.