Mission Codename Essential Drinker
We hope you haven’t maxxed out your Rosé stash for the summer, because we have one you NEED in your life. Positively lip-smacking deliciousness and outstandingly priced at 41% OFF.
Seriously, what a find!! The Corley Family Napa Winery is a tiny little family-run operation in Napa with a beautiful estate on Big Ranch Road. Started in 1969 under Jay Corley and today run by his sons Kevin, Chris, Stephen, and Kent. The Pinot Noir comes from their Oak Knoll vineyard, square in the heart of Napa and not in Carneros or Sonoma.
This is a thoughtful, deliberate Rosé, crafted with a slightly unusual approach. Corley uses 100% Pinot Noir, and combines early whole cluster press with saignée from their later harvested grapes. This early harvest brings out the salmon color, delicate aromas, and bright acidity. The saignée from the later harvested fruit adds a heavier, lower acid, riper side and the end result is nothing short of extraordinary.
Chris Corley explains his dual harvesting philosophy:
“My preference is in the middle of these two, which is how we arrived at this dual picking technique for our Rosé. This is an example of 1 + 1 = 3, which is always the goal when blending or combining lots. You might ask, why not just split the difference, and pick once in mid-September, rather than go through twice? Simply put, it’s not a game of averages. I’m looking for aromas and flavors that are specific to those two points in time. Those specific aromas and flavors don’t exist in the middle. By picking the grapes at those two points in time, then blending them together, we capture those essences that don’t exist in the middle.”
This fresh release is simply bursting at the seams with fabulously complex and crisp flavors of strawberry, watermelon, and jackfruit. It has crisp acidity that carries the fruit, and a nice round mouthfeel. And the modest alcohol means you can drink a frightening amount on a warm summer evening without even realizing it. Trust us on that one, we did our fair share of testing!
While we’re on the subject of Summer, here’s a prime treat for the kids (or you). Grab the following:
1 lb. watermelon
1 lb. strawberries
1 lemon, juiced
1 freshly chopped mint
Throw ingredients into a blender and pour the pureed mixture into popsicle molds to freeze overnight. Pop them out and let the kids go wild. Make sure you throw a bottle of this in the freezer for an hour, then bust out the pops for the kiddos and the bottle for the adults. They get a healthy treat, and you get the adult version, which tastes nearly identical. And you could, if so inclined, sacrifice a bottle of this to make your own boozy adult Frosé Pops…or a Frosé slushie. We wouldn’t even object!
Like bags of charcoal, Caprese salad, and sunscreen, having a case or two of Rosé on hand during the summer is absolutely, 100% a requirement. Get yours while it lasts!
What the Winery Says
2019 'Monticello' Napa Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir
- Winemaker
- Chris Corley
- Varietals
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Vintage
- 2019
- Appellation
- Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
- Alcohol
- 12.8%
- pH
- 6.5
- Method
- 50% saignée & 50% direct press
- Aging
- 4 months
- Vessels
- 100% stainless steel