Dr. Owen Bargreen popped in for a visit a couple of years ago to hang with Dave and sample some of the wines (including the Prelude rosé).
Dr. Owen Bargreen — prolific wine reviewer and Level 2 Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers — has again included our Estate “Brosé” on his annual, 2021 Pacific Northwest Rosé Report, recently posted on his eponymous website. And that’s something we can “Roar for Rosé” about with the resident winery Diva Dog, Cupcake.
Bargreen writes: “2020 was a more than challenging year for most of us. Not only did we experience the worst pandemic in centuries, 2020 brought us plenty of challenges throughout the Pacific Northwest on the winemaking side, with smoke issues wrecking havoc on harvests in both Washington and Oregon. Having tasted through more than 100 Rose wines, I sadly was not able to rate many due to smoke influence in the wines.
“The idea behind this report is to highlight the best of the best, and share some of the outstanding values that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I would argue that the best thing that a wine critic can do is point the consumer in the right direction in terms of what the reviewer considers to be not only the creme de la creme but wines that overdeliver for the price.”
Bargreen’s report is broken into two categories: top values and top wines (2020 Prelude Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir is listed under the top wines section).
Here’s what he says about the 2020 Prelude:
2020 Bells Up ‘Prelude’ Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir – Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this brightly colored Rose shows great acidity and texture with bright guava and red cherry flavors, with orange rind and peat moss undertones. The poise and astringency here is really nice. This seriously good stuff finishes long and might just be the best edition of this wine that I have tasted. Drink 2021-2025 – 91
