Second Pour: Fearless Rosé Earns a 92!

Summer is still here… and somehow so is this dreamlike deal?!

How’s your fortification of easy drinking tipple?? Prepare for pool parties, BBQ, little league practice, floating down the Russian River, and any other activity you have lined up. Inside or outside, this is what you want on constant rotation.

A fresh-making, zippy, juicy, lip-smackingly tasty Rosé. And you thought all we sold was Napa Cab around here, didn’t you?!

This scores high on the “yum factor” thanks to the brilliant winemaking skills of Chelsea Hoff, that is!

Hoff is old school Napa. Her family moved from Minnesota when she was young and she caught the bug early, taking more high school chemistry classes than most. She learned from the most well-respected winemakers in the Valley and she’s helped craft some of the most cult wines too.

She graduated from UC Davis and went on to make wine internationally with Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux and Charles Melton Wines in Adelaide Australia. More locally, she’s worked with Jesse Katz of Aperture & Devil Proof brands and under Thomas Rivers Brown and Heidi Barrett, the Queen of Napa Valley herself.

Hoff’s fam also founded Fantesca Estate & Winery tucked into Spring Mountain, where she is still the Assistant Winemaker. And if you know Fantesca, you know they do not play around. Serious, serious wines.

So, while the label and bottle might look a little whimsical, be sure of one thing - this has ALL the chops you want in a lively rose. In 2016, Hoff created Fearless Wines as her own passion project, focusing on well-crafted, interesting wines at a reasonable price point.

As is the practice with the best of the best in Napa Valley, they find the best vineyard to craft their master pieces. This Rose of Grenache comes from Santa Barbara County, the Ballard Canyon AVA to be specific. Ballard Canyon is known for premium Rhone varietals.

This Rosé of Grenache is so perfect for your Springtime hankerings. Bright acidity, fresh strawberries and raspberries with lovely notes of herb and minerality. A literal burst of sunshine in the glass is waiting for you.

You’d better stock up because the word is out now!

92 Points – Decanter (to be published in August) “A 100% Grenache rosé from winemaker Chelsea Hoff, sourced from the Ballard Canyon AVA of Santa Barbara. This wine captures all the warmth of Southern California sunshine in a bottle—juicy, tangy strawberry and raspberry fruit, lifted by white peach aromatics and supported by a firm spine of racy acidity and chalky minerality. Emerging notes of guava and mango add tropical flair to the lengthy, refreshing finish.”