2012 Charles & Charles Rosé

We weren't on a lookout for this wine but there it was on the shelf! I had just read about it in the July-August 2013 issue of Vineyard & Winery Management so we had to try it. If I recall correctly, it was under $10.00. We drank this wine recently and really enjoyed it's crisp and refreshing quality that was not at all cloying. The article that I read about the Charles & Charles Rosé mentioned that the Syrah grapes that are used to make this rosé are deliberately picked slightly underripe to get the grassy, minerally, savory notes. So, unlike other rosés that may be a byproduct of making red wine, i.e. using the saigneé method or by blending a red wine and a white wine, 2012 Charles & Charles Rosé is made the traditional way, the same way it is made in Provence. The Charles Smith and Charles Bieler partnership began in 2008 when they made 3,000 cases and have grown to 20,000 cases for the 2012 vintage. My surprise at seeing this wine was that the article stated that by early 2013, this rosé was sold out, so we were lucky indeed to have a taste.
The link to the article in Vineyard & Winery Management can be found here: Taking Rosé Seriously