When summer nights are bearable, I hang in the backyard with my Bodhi Bear – the best red Doberman you’ll ever meet. We throw a ball around, I scratch her neck a bit, and she let’s me sip on some wine. We complement each other perfectly. During our latest summer night hang session, I popped open a bottle of 2018 Kenwood Rosé, made of 100% Pinot Noir.
Kenwood Vineyards was established in the 1970s in the very heart of Sonoma, where together with a handful of wineries, they started winemaking in the region, long before the region’s AVAs were even created.
This wine comes from the Sonoma Coast appellation. Although this large region encompasses both the Russian River and Carneros appellations, it is known for its cool climate and long growing season due to the cooling breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean. This unique terroir helps produce wines with distinct flavors and character. The label features an Indian Paintbrush flower on the label, which represents the wildflower that grows along the rocky Sonoma Coast. It blooms during spring and summer between May and August, which is the ideal time of year to enjoy this Rosé.
That year, the vineyard had significant spring rainfall and a sunny, but mild, growing season – which allowed for an above average crop for the 2018 vintage. The vineyard block in the Russian River region was harvested on September 6, earlier than usual in order to take advantage of the bright acidity in the grapes. They use stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures for fermentation and bottled the wine only four months after the grapes were picked to maintain the fresh fruity aromas.
The wine is pale pink with a bouquet of strawberries, white flowers, and stone fruit. It tastes like raspberries, green apple, a hint of citrus. It’s crisp and great for outdoors. With the wine club, you can buy this for $15.40. Otherwise, it’s $22. I paired it with Kong toys, tennis balls, and my bitch.
Interested in Kenwood wines? Check out my notes on their Sauvignon Blanc.
