2012 Idlewild Grenache Gris Rosé Gibson Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 90.5 points

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  11/20/2013 - joefel Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Beautiful dark salmon color. Slight citrus on the nose and palate. Crisp, clean, with a nice mouthfeel. Medium-length finish. The acidity played very well with homemade spaghetti all'aglio, olio, e peperoncino. Again, I have thoroughly enjoyed every wine I have tasted from Sam & Jessica. I can't wait to try their Dolcetto and Carignan!

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  3/29/2013 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 91 Points

  Somehow Grenache Gris vines in Mendocino County, have been the best kept secret in decades. No longer, Idlewild is the one of the first, with a few more small culty producers to follow, working with the largely unknown 3rd member of the Grenache family.
  
  This is one of three new releases of the initial vintage of Idlewild - a local north Sonoma amazing husband and wife team, who should soon join the ranks of the other noteworthy small producers doing high quality, unusual wines.
  
  The wine is a from mix of old and new world vinification techniques. Demonstrating that few winemakers follow the same doctrine, part of the beauty of the craft.
  
  The process for the Grenache Gris was noteworthy combination of carbonic, skin contact, and neutral barrel
  - at start, bins were gassed with carbon dioxide and sealed, for carbonic maceration.
  - Five days later, Once carbonic maceration began the grapes were foot stomped to crush the berries.
  - For another three days they left the fruit on skins and stems., during normal fermentation
  - The juice was then pressed and fermentation finished slowly
  at low temperatures.
  - Finally, elevage (aging) was a few months in neutral French oak on the lees.
  
  Tasting Notes:
  The first thing that strikes you about this wine, (besides its gorgeous clear color.) is its savory nature, both on the nose and palate.
  
  Color: Clear, bright, dark salmon orange
  Nose: Watermelon rind, blood orange, citrus, savory/spice note
  On The Palate: The front palate is citrus, blood orange, hint of ruby grapefruit. The mid palate has an excellent salinity element and savory notes. The finish continues the mid palate profile with a clean finish of savory & citrus.
  
  A very drinkable wine solo, the savory & saline begs me to pair it with food, which I will the next bottle. Summer fare - salads with citrus sections, and citrus vinegar dressings, grilled lighter fare, leaner white fish (pair salt with salt remember.)
  
  The wine is also young, a hybrid of white, and a lighter red. it will be a worthy experience to buy 6+ bottles and drink over the season and experience subtle changes.
  
  122 cases produced, 12.6 % alc
  
  Get ready for the Grenache gris revolution.

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