Nothing compares to the taste of fresh fruit in the summer. This is especially true of berries. Living in Spokane, WA I am blessed with access to many growers of fresh fruits and produce. I have the option of exploring one of our local farmers markets or I can go directly to the farms. It has been a great summer in the Northwest and the abundance of produce has been fantastic. As our summer begins its slow dip into the horizon, the Blackberry is now taking center stage. Each juicy gem is an explosion of dark, succulent sweetness that carries me back to my days as a child picking berries with my father on the banks of the Clearwater River in Idaho.
This past Saturday, we picked a nice batch of Blackberries from Knapp’s Farm on Greenbluff, WA. While most of the berries are destined to be eaten fresh, end up in a batch of jam, and become a glorious pie, I had planned to make a savory blackberry glaze for grilled chicken. The grilled chicken was the main course for a dinner party that included hors’ devours of grilled, bacon wrapped goat’s milk gouda cheese bites, a cherry tomato orzo salad and a peach-rhubarb cobbler for dessert.
To complement the smoky bacon-cheese bites and the sweet, spicy goodness of the blackberry glazed chicken, while also not overwhelming the tomato-orzo salad, I selected a Washington wine that has become one of our family’s summer-time favorites – Hogue Cellar’s Terroir selection of Sangiovese Rosato.
Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, “the blood of Jove”.  Jove or Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon.  Sangiovese is most famous as the main component of the robust Chianti blend in Tuscany. In this case, Hogue Cellars expertly reveals Sangiovese’s softer side.
2005 Hogue Terroir Sangiovese Rosato
| 2005 SANGIOVESE ROSATO TASTING NOTES |
||
| Category | Notes | Score |
| Eye | Bright cherry pink | 1.5 |
| Nose | Cherry, floral, and citrus notes. | 4 |
| Taste | Fruit forward with the taste of tropical fruits mingling with subtle citrus notes. The fruit’s sweetness is nicely complemented with some acidity and discreet spice. | 5 |
| Mouth-Feel | Well balanced and medium body, with a nice sweetness on the finish. | 3 |
| Tasting Comments | The Rosato is a refreshing summer sipping wine that pairs well with a wide array of meals. | |
| Value Comments | This rosé is a good value for the price. | |
| Inland Northwest Wine Century Club Score | 13.5:115 | |
| Technical Information | ||
| Fruit | 100% Sangiovesse |  |
| Vineyards | 52% Zephyr Ridge, 48% Pheasant Vineyard | |
| Appelation | 52% Horse heaven Hills, 48% Wahluke Slope | |
| Aging | The lot of rosé from Pheasant Vineyard was chilled near the end of fermentation to stop the yeast prematurely. | |
| Alcohol |
13.1% | |
| pH | 3.24 | |
| TA | 0.65 | |
| R.S. | 0.99 g/100 ml | |
| Production | 412 cases | |
| Wine Maker | Jordan Ferrier | |
| Price | Retail: $15.99 Wine Club: $11.70 | |
| Winemaker’s Notes |
The Sangiovese grapes used in this rosé-style wine, were also the base for a hearty super-Tuscan style Sangiovese. The rosé wine is ‘bled’ from the primary fermentation when there is a strong pink color and a touch of flavor that would otherwise be lacking in a blanc de noir wine. The lot of rosé from Pheasant Vineyard was chilled near the end of fermentation to stop the yeast prematurely. This contrib- uted the sweetness and a more floral, fruity character to the final blend. | |
Winery website: www.hoguecellars.com
The next time you reach for a rosé or just want to try something new, consider trying Hogue’s Terroir Sangiovese Rosato. This is a refreshing wine with a character and depth of flavors not often found in a rosé. To obtain a bottle (or three) plan on visiting Hogue’s website or their tasting room in Prosser, WA. The Terroir line of wines is available only at the tasting room or for those who decide to become a member of the Hogue Cellars Wine Club.
Hogue Cellars Wine Club
wineclub@hoguecellars.com
(509) 786-6108
Awesome blog! Loving it!