2022 Lytton Estate Rosé

Notes of fresh strawberry and watermelon with hints of rose petal, white tea and mint. Refreshing acidity with pleasant texture and subtle layers of flavor. SR (2/23)

The grapes for this rosé represent limited pickings in six different vineyard parcels. Heavy rains in December, followed by a dry spring and mild summer helped ensure ripeness, while retaining acidity and freshness. Harvested in six different passes between August 25 and September 13, the grapes were pressed as whole clusters and fermented separately. The result is a light, pure fruit expression. SR (10/22)

Our first Lytton Estate Rosé was 2016. Each year, since then, we make a rosé culled from the range of Rhône varieties and zinfandel planted throughout our Lytton Springs vineyard. Extemporaneously produced by taste, the makeup of the wine changes vintage-to-vintage. As such, each spring upon release, it offers a unique opportunity to experience an old vineyard from a fresh angle.

Rainfall: 23 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: This was our third season into the drought. Though we had a very dry winter, spring gave the vines some rain, which helped throughout the summer. Though cold temperatures in early May disrupted bloom in zinfandel, in late May the perfect temperatures allowed for a bountiful crop of grenache, cinsault and counoise.

Harvest Dates: 25 August – 13 September
Grapes: Average Brix 21.0˚
TA: 8.34 g/L
pH: 3.35
Fermentation: 100% direct-to-press whole-cluster; natural primary and secondary
Aging: 100% Stainless Steel

Hand-harvested, sustainably grown, estate grapes; whole-cluster pressed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (37.8 mg/L total); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

OwenBargreen.com: 92 Points “A blend of mostly Grenache and Zinfandel, the Zinfanldel was picked a mere 17.5 Brix. Stored in stainless steel this shows beautiful red florals with citrus zest and shades of honeydew melon. This is fresh and fragrant Rose that is truly one of a kind. Drink 2023-2028.” -Owen Bargreen (April 2023)

Average Rating: 91.2

No. of Tasting Notes: 14

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