American Rosés to Enjoy in the Summer Sun | Wine Enthusiast
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American Rosés to Enjoy in the Summer Sun

Rosé should be enjoyed throughout all the seasons, but it’s refreshing nature and lovely rosy hue have made it a summer staple.

But as your looking for your next bottle, consider buying one that’s homegrown and produced. From California to New York and some of the states in between, we’ve found the bottles to look for that are perfect to enjoy during outdoor parties and impromptu gatherings.

California 

Rodney Strong 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $26, 92 points. Effusive in peach flavor and aroma, this is a lovely wine, sizzling in crisp, focused acidity and additional flavors of orange, strawberry and grapefruit. Light in body, it finishes on a flourish of Meyer lemon zest.—Virginie Boone

Topa Mountain Winery 2016 Rosé of Grenache (Santa Barbara County); $28, 92 points. Pale pink in color, this is a pitch-perfect rosé, with aromas of watermelon, pink grapefruit, rose petal and lemon rind. There is great zip to the palate and a chalky texture, carrying fresh but tight red-fruit flavors. It will please New World and Old World fans alike.—Matt Kettmann

Decoy 2017 Rosé (California); $20, 91 points. Lively citrus aromas on the nose transition to tangy grapefruit and cranberry flavors on the palate. There is great energy and concentration to this medium-bodied rosé with a surprising amount of depth. Editors’ Choice.—Jim Gordon

New York 

Sheldrake Point 2017 Dry Estate Bottled Rosé (Finger Lakes); $18, 90 points. This 100% Cabernet Franc rosé offers an exuberance of watermelon, tart cherry and spicy raspberry on the nose. There’s a rounded feel to the palate, with flavors of juicy red fruit, peach and tart pomegranate. A lingering note of watermelon is heightened by a dusting of minerals.—Alexander Peartree

Wölffer 2017 Summer in a Bottle Rosé (Long Island); $25, 87 points. An interesting blend of 51% Merlot and 23% Chardonnay, with the remainder Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, this rosé is tight and crisp in feel, with tart red berries taking center stage over softer flavors of peach and apricot. The palate is light in feel, with an ever-present vein of acidity keeping focus.—A.P.

Oregon

Sokol Blosser 2017 Estate Cuvée Rosé of Pinot Noir (Dundee Hills); $25, 91 points. Too many rosés go for power over finesse; this takes the lighter path, to good effect. Made from all organic estate fruit fermented entirely in stainless steel, it’s fragrant and spicy at just 12% alcohol. But there’s no lack of flavor: fresh strawberry, pink grapefruit and blood orange. A hint of pepper spices up the finish. Editors’ Choice.—Paul Gregutt

Portlandia 2016 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley); $18, 90 points. Portlandia made a pair of rosés in 2016, this one entirely from Shepherd’s Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir. It’s tight and focused, with lovely citrus blossom and rose petal scents. Flavors follow, adding strawberry, watermelon and minerally acids to the mix. They persist through a long, fresh finish.—P.G.

Phelps Creek 2016 Fleur de Roy Rosé of Pinot Noir (Columbia Gorge); $26, 90 points. A lovely coppery hue, this is a full-bodied wine with plentiful flavors of citrus, strawberries and cherries. It broadens out in the mouth, without losing focus, and brings in a streak of sassafras. As with most rosés, it should be consumed with two years of the vintage.—P.G.

Washington

Charles & Charles 2017 Rosé (Columbia Valley); $12, 90 points. This wine is a pretty, pale-salmon color. Aromas of strawberry bubblegum, herb, tropical fruit and citrus peel lead to dry fruit flavors, full of papaya, guava and pink-grapefruit notes with a tart finish. It flat-out delivers. Best Buy.—Sean P. Sullivan

Sleight of Hand 2017 Magician’s Assistant Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley); $18, 90 points. Pale peach in color, this wine brings vibrant aromas of spice, herb, sour cherry, bubblegum and strawberry. The flavors are sleekly styled with mouthwatering acidity. It impresses.—S.S.

Gramercy 2017 Olsen Vineyard Rosé (Columbia Valley); $25, 90 points. Cinsault (44%) makes up the largest percentage of this wine, followed by Grenache (31%) and Syrah. A pretty pale-salmon color, the aromas are light, with notes of herb and strawberry that are followed by tart, nuanced fruit and herb flavors that possess a lovely feel.—S.S.

Virginia

Early Mountain 2017 Rosé (Virginia); $24, 89 points. This rosé offers delicate nose of strawberry, white tea and wet limestone. This minerality carries over to the palate with tones of dried herbs and lavender. Bright acidity and a stony mouthfeel lead to a long and elegant finish.—Carrie Dykes

Horton 2016 Private Reserve Nebbiolo Rosé (Virginia); $25, 88 points. Vibrantly pink and lush in aromas of rooibos, melon, raspberry and peach, this rosé sets itself apart from the pack. Flavors burst with raspberry and orange peel on the palate, with a well-balanced, flavorful finish.—C.D.

Texas 

Llano Estacado 2017 Signature Rosé (Texas); $10, 89 points. Enticing aromas of strawberry and freshly squeezed lemon juice are accented by white pepper on the nose of this blend of 34% Cinsault, 31% Carignan, 22% Mourvèdre and 13% Grenache. Ripe pink grapefruit and strawberry flavors are sunny on the palate, backed by juicy lemon-lime acidity that leads into a clean, zesty finish. Best Buy.—Fiona Adams

Messina Hof 2017 Sophia Marie Bright Beginnings Rosé (Texas); $19, 87 points. Bright coral pink in the glass, aromas of raspberry, cherry and kiwi skins are sprinkled with white pepper and celery. Made from Dolcetto, the palate shows measured acidity balanced by lush flavors of strawberry, raspberry, kiwi and guava that remain juicy through the finish.—F.A.

Colorado

Sutcliffe 2016 Rosé (Colorado); $20, 88 points. Pale salmon in color, aromas of Golden Delicious apple, strawberry, white flowers and wet concrete waft from the glass. The palate echoes the nose, adding Asian pear, white peach, a squeeze of lime and a mineral-driven vein of acidity. The finish is light and clean, with delicate flavors of pear and watermelon juice.—F.A.

The Infinite Monkey Theorem 2017 Rosé (Grand Valley); $20, 88 points. Don’t let the glowing neon-watermelon color frighten you, this juicy rosé is packed with flavors and aromas of ripe strawberry, cherry, watermelon and lime. The palate strikes a balance between bright zesty acidity and crushed river rock minerality, leading to a cheerful lingering watermelon note on the finish.—F.A.

Michigan

Bonobo 2016 Rosé (Old Mission Peninsula); $30, 85 points. White peach, fresh raspberry and strawberry aromas are joined by a touch of grassiness on the nose of this mostly Pinot Gris rosé. Strawberry and peach flavors carry over to the palate and are joined by watermelon rind, leading into a clean, neutral finish.—F.A.

Dablon 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé (Lake Michigan Shore); $24, 82 points. Extremely floral aromas of potpourri are joined by bruised strawberry and overripe raspberry on the nose. The palate offers an underripe strawberry flavors leading into a sour and bruised fruit finish.—F.A.