Crisp, elegant and refreshing with a slight sparkle on the finish. Subtle notes of peach, pear and melon in harmony with balanced acidity make this Rosé wine excellent on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, seafood and a variety of other foods.
Winemaking Notes
Our 2018 Rosé wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel grapes. All clusters are pressed whole and then gently transferred to stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barrels for fermentation. The high-end technique of whole cluster pressing reduces contact time with the stems and skins, creating a delicate Rosé with light peach color and balanced acidity.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Composition: 50% Zinfandel, 45% Pinot, 5% Syrah.
Vineyard Sources: Various Russian River Valley AVA Vineyards
pH: 3.34
T.A.: 7.1 g/l.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: .12
Whole cluster press
Fermentation: Stainless steel and neutral French oak
Our Square Peg Estate Vineyard is located in one of the finest sections of the Russian River Valley, and is also co-located in 2 additional AVA’s: Green Valley of Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. Situated on a ridge at an elevation of approximately 800 feet, the Estate receives ample sunshine throughout the day, and our proximity to the coast allows for cool, foggy evenings.
Our portfolio consists of boutique Estate dry-farmed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Rosé. Each vintage is produced in extremely limited quantities and is allocated primarily to our Club Members. We are committed to sustainability in both our Estate Vineyard and throughout the winemaking process.
Long time California wine-maker William Knuttel has concentrated on ultra-premium winemaking for the majority of his career. His philosophy has long been to make a wide range of wines in various styles every vintage, for the simple reason that the number of vintages for any winemaker is quite finite. This wealth of experience has led directly to his adherence to traditional winemaking practices, which lead to balanced, elegant wines that pair well with foods and have excellent aging potential—the hallmarks of classic wine.
We have been sustainably farming premium quality grapes in the heart of the Russian River Valley for over 3 decades. Our premier location and connection to the local grape growing community has enabled us to forge lasting partnerships with neighboring winegrowers, who in turn provide us with access to some of the finest grapes in the Russian River Valley.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SD, TX, VA, WA, WY
@stinks
It’s not always the state from which it originates.
Some states (CT, for example) require each producer to apply individually to sell/ship there.
It’s a lot of work for nor much reward if a vineyard doesn’t normally sell online and/or is small.
Something is amiss here. The 2008 Rose on their website is $40 and has a different label. However, the tasting notes are exactly the same. Can WD or winery clarify? This definitely looks like a great deal if it’s the same rose
@losthighwayz 2018 you mean! But yes, that is interesting. OTOH $40 retail just seems like an extra-high price for a Rose unless it’s something really special.
@losthighwayz@pmarin Seems they make an estate rose with the $40 price tag and this version which is a little harder to find details on.
Hmmm…looks like casemates lifted that note from the wrong wine…
@losthighwayz Yeah, $15 retail seems too low for “ultra-premium winemaking”. I’d expect it would cost more for the “high-end technique of whole cluster pressing.” Then again, if we’re talking about a winery whose “portfolio consists of boutique Estate dry-farmed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel”, I can see how there might be some Pinot Noir and Zinfandel juice just lying around.
@pmarin haha yes 2018. $40 way too high for any rose imo. $30 is pushing it and I cap my rose purchases at $25 but typically buy roses in the $10-$15 range
@losthighwayz, @pmarin, - OMGosh, my apologies, this is my bad. I didn’t update with the new notes. It will be updated shortly but here’s what I got:
Specs:
• Vintage: 2018
• Composition: 50% Zinfandel, 45% Pinot, 5% Syrah.
• Vineyard Sources: Various Russian River Valley AVA Vineyards
• pH: 3.34
• T.A.: 7.1 g/l.
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Residual Sugar: 0.12%
• Whole cluster press
• Fermentation: Stainless steel and neutral French oak
• Cases Produced: 225
Tasting Notes:
Crisp, elegant and refreshing with a slight sparkle on the finish. Subtle notes of peach, pear and melon in harmony with balanced acidity make this Rosé wine excellent on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, seafood and a variety of other foods.
@losthighwayz@WCCWineGirl OK thanks for updating the info in this forum section. Note that the main product page (the one you order from) still says “(AbV 12.5%, 70% Pinot Noir & 30% Zinfandel)”
While $40 for our Estate Rose may seem like an extra-high price on the surface, allow me to explain why the Estate Rose is priced where it is and then you can be the judge!
We dry farm all of our grapes which is much more labor intensive and risky than farming an irrigated vineyard. Dry farming produces smaller crop yields at higher prices per acre so before we even make the wine, our costs are substantially higher than traditionally farmed and irrigated vineyards.
We are also certified sustainable. Now sustainable can mean very little or it can mean a lot. In our case we farm at the highest possible level and as organically as possible. All of our canopy management (leaf thinning and shoot positioning) and harvesting is done by hand. Unlike the majority of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, we use absolutely no herbicides meaning we control weeds by hand and mulch. All of our electrical needs are provided by our Solar PVA. We also pay our workers substantially more than minimum wage. So, as you probably already know, sustainability is expensive!
Then there’s the business side: We sell the Estate Rosé (which is made from 100% Estate fruit) for less than we sell our Estate Pinot Noir ($65/bottle) so we need to offset the smaller margin by selling the Rosé for $40/bottle. This may seem to be a bit high but it is quite a bit less than we sell our Pinot Noir for.
Using our dry farmed, Estate Pinot Noir grapes in our Rosé makes for an incomparable, albeit more costly Rosé.
@losthighwayz@square_peg Thanks for the excellent description. Yes, I understand the complexities (and costs) of growing fine Pinot Noir; being near the Willamette Valley, I’ve learned there are just incredible Pinot Noirs that can be had, but they are costly to make, (and to buy!) And as you say, it’s unusual for the finest fruit to be used in a Rosé, so your Estate Rosé does sound like something special I’d love to taste someday!
@square_peg Thanks a lot for your fantastic participation! It really means a lot. Since you mention the “business side”, I’m curious about your production. I see that this RRV Rose had 225 cases, which sounds small to me, so if this is a “large production” run for you guys it must be awful small. How many cases does your estate produce? I’ve been reading about the variability in individual oak barrels (even from the same cooperage, forest, etc), which I’d guess partially explains why blending is so important (even with single varietal wines.) Do you use new oak? If so, how do you handle variability with such small production? (Not looking for trade secrets, just curious)
It’s been fun hanging out here! What a great community of well-informed folks with really good comments/questions. Our Estate case production fluctuates between 2500 – 3000 cases per year.
We do use a percentage of new French oak for Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Barrel variability, availability and affordability are all challenges for small producers. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a winemaker who (in addition to having nearly 40 years’ experience making wine) has his own brand and winery. He purchases a significant number of barrels every year and simply orders a few extra for me. Most of the barrels he purchases are allocated to winemakers who have a history with the cooper. It would be very difficult for a small winery such as Square Peg to have access to these sought-after barrels without a connection to an established winemaker.
When the UPS driver showed up for a second time in one day, I had my suspicions, and they were quickly confirmed as I tore open the package to find a bottle of 2018 Square Peg Rosé. We love Russian River Valley pinot noir so they got a free star right off the bat.
Fortunately, the bottle hadn’t warmed up much in transit. After a brief chill in the fridge I popped the cork and checked the temp: 63. That’s about where we like to drink rose (though I know some prefer colder).
Immediate thoughts:
Lovely coppery salmon
Slowly developed legs
Smells tart, maybe some peach notes
On the tongue, I got “wine” flavor… it is crisp and lightly acidic, but I had a very hard time teasing out individual flavors. It was well balanced, a hint of spicy tingle on the palette, and with a nice smooth finish. Just not a lot that stood out.
My wife’s thoughts: “I taste apple and pear. I really like it.”
We finished the first glasses on the balcony. Very refreshing in the squinty bright sun. The rest of the bottle accompanied a dinner of roast chicken and root veggies. The Square Peg had enough going on to cut through the flavors of dinner here but I think not a heavier meal (red meat or tomato sauce).
Some history… we drink a lot of white and rose in the summertime as a change of pace. If you have made recent purchases, we enjoyed this MORE than the Mulderbosch Rose from June 25th, which I found somewhat bitter. The Square Peg is on par with the Fossil Point Rose from May 12th which we liked a lot. I would need to do a head-to-head between them to say for sure but I remember the Fossil Point having a little more distinctive flavor profile.
@kaolis I don’t have the bottle handy to confirm, but I believe this wording, from the web site for the Estate Rose, is identical. “[…] is a crisp, elegant wine with a lively and refreshing finish. Characterized by subtle notes of peach, pear and melon, it’s the perfect choice to enjoy on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, seafood, and a variety of other foods.”
I specifically remember their note about “subtle notes of peach, pear, and melon”.
If I was a betting man, I would say it’s the same exact wine and they did another round of labels so that they could keep the two price points.
@eburke seems there was indeed a little mix-up in specs and notes given (now corrected) and it is two different wines. But I was wondering the same thing at first.
@eburke@kaolis Now that we know the “blend” is different, I’m curious about the sourcing of the Pinot Noir. Is it the same as in the other blend; maybe just a few leftover barrels to use up to make this blend? Or from different sources?
Because I’ve been growing grapes in the Russian River Valley for almost 30 years I’ve established some great relationships with many of the local growers and I’m frequently approached by growers with excess fruit to sell. Such was the case in 2018, when I was contacted by several growers offering quality grapes at very good prices. The fruit was picked early (which made the growers happy and made for great Rosé) and we made the Rosé blend that’s being offered today at the same time as we were making our Estate Rosé. This made the winemaker happy because instead of making a minuscule quantity of Estate Rose, he was able to more efficiently utilize the wine-making equipment by making our Estate Rosé at the same time he was making the non-estate RRV blend that’s being offered today. We created a new label for this lower priced, non-estate Square Peg that utilizes grapes sourced from several vineyards in the Russian River Valley.
@eburke
My pleasure. And as far as betting goes, my track record is likely more awful than yours. In 1998, I chose to plant Zinfandel in the one of the finest places in CA to grow Pinot Noir because I was betting (wrongly) that Pinot Noir was over-planted. And this was well in advance of Pinot’s Sideways bump in 2004! I’m not sorry about planting Zin mind you, I just wish I’d planted a little Pinot back then.
@eburke@square_peg I’ve had excellent RRV Zinfandel - Harvest Moon comes to mind. Randy does some excellent stuff with his estate fruit. Do you also produce a cooler climate Zin that might find its way here? I’m always looking for more interesting and lower alcohol expressions of the grape.
@kaolis Ok I dug the bottle out of the recycling bin to make sure I wasn’t crazy in confusing the Estate Rose vs this offering.
“Our Russion River Valley Rosé is a crisp elegant wine with a slightly effervescent and refreshing finish. Characterized by subtle notes of peach, pear, and melon it’s the perfect choice to enjoy on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, and seafood, and a variety of other foods.”
So, “slightly effervescent and refreshing finish” vs “lively and refreshing finish”. @square_peg you may need to hire a copy writer.
@kaolis no no that’s not what I meant. I’m sure they are different. But the description on the label for our Rose, and what they have on their website for the Estate Rose, are very very very similar and i’m just poking fun.
@eburke@kaolis I am just glad it is not the standard marketing person copy/paste like “Wine is a tradition for all times and this wine is produced with joy and harmony in mind to enjoy with your friends .” or something totally useless like that. Though perhaps “lively and refreshing” is equally inane. (sorry, harsh!)
@eburke@kaolis@pmarin
While we all expect that on a label, at least, here, we have an engaging winemaker talking about whats inside, and not just spewing platitudes.
For that, I am grateful.
There’s been comedy of errors with regards to the Estate Rose notes and the RRV Rosé being offered here today. To clarify things: Both wines are similar in style with the Estate being more “Provencal” than the wine being offered here. The non-Estate has a bit more residual sugar than the Estate, is slightly darker in color than the Estate with a bigger nose and a touch more fruit. It showcases less minerality and is not as complex as the Estate. It (the Casemates offering) is drinking quite beautifully at the moment.
I really enjoy Harvest Moon wines! Their Estate is 6 miles +/- to the east of our Estate at an elevation of 100’ +/- vs. our elevation of 800’. All of our Zins are low alcohol (13.9% for the 2017). Sadly, because our production is so small, we won’t be offering them on Casemates. Sorry about that.
@rjquillin@square_peg The RS with that number looks like it should be in percent - g/100 ml. As g/l that would be ridiculously small, and anything more would have this no longer being dry.
@square_peg I’m snooty and had a low opinion of known winemakers using purchased “excess” fruit, but then I had a Hawley Viognier (offered on Casemates 5/28/2020) made with non-estate grapes from Mendocino. Do you often make wines with purchased fruit? If so, would you be willing to offer them here? Please?
As you’ve discovered, occasionally you can find a great wine made from “excess” grapes. The difficulty is in determining the pedigree of the excess grapes. We don’t often make wines from excess fruit but if we do, you’ll see it here.
Oh! I’m surprised to see a cork closure (and if I’m being honest, less than pleased, call me lazy but I like Stelvin closures for summer sippers on the porch).
@rjquillin LOL. Relic is right… it’s from the bar tool set we got at our wedding.
For years I used a compact OXO continuous twist model that they don’t make any more. After it broke I went back to old faithful.
I am getting use to screw tops… but there’s just something about popping the cork on a bottle of wine that says…take THAT! to the work day, the stress or whatever I am relaxing toward to try to forget for a little bit… I am just old and like the cork
@byoungbd1 I actually have the opposite feeling – I love the “screw tops,” as does my mother who is 91 years old and still enjoys her daily glass of wine. I certainly prefer them over the synthetic corks, and am mixed on natural corks – as you know there’s decades of research and debates on wine closure tech, though no clear “winner.”
I also remember when Randall Graham (of Bonny Doon at the time) was a proponent of the screw-caps on “good” wine, and as a statement, put the screwcap first on his flagship “most expensive” wine to prove a point. This would have been around 1990.
For the Rosé in this offer, I’m assuming it’s likely using the cork closure because the same line was bottling other products like the Estate Rosé, and probably doesn’t have the equipment or materials (empty bottles) to use the other closures. Obviously it only makes sense to do that if there is already a bottling operation set up for that.
@pmarin yes, I think I should just get over the sound of the cork … the screw tops do make more sense…it’s totally just a “feel” or “aesthetic” thing I am use to…prob lends to my ocd a bit
@byoungbd1 It’s funny you say (“sound of the cork”) – about 35 years ago I was traveling in France for a technology company (at the time I was about 22 so it was cool to travel to Europe and have everything paid-for!). I worked with really nice guy from our France office (a friend I still have contact with). When we ordered wine at a restaurant, and the waiter opened the bottle, he had an expression in French which he translated as “who calls me?”
@byoungbd1 Also reminded me of another story (this is just for general education of us here). I would try to get the last drop out of the bottle. He had another expression, which he said meant you would be “hanged or married within a year.” And he said they could be the same thing (you can interpret that many ways; though in fairness he has been happily married and has a son that is now well grown-up). So I just did a quick search and found this: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/married-or-hanged.364227/
@pmarin sounds like good times with good company… so it is like our thing where we pull petals off of a rose sort of… this will be very nice party or business dinner conversation!
So I have purchased at least 5 cases of the NXNW Rose and also a case of the Fossil Point and my wife and I definitely prefer the NXNW over the Fossil Point. The tasting notes seem to place this closer to the NXNW but I would be curious to hear thoughts from others.
I did not order the Fossil Point (actually I was going to, and then by the time I remembered, it had switched to the next deal.) But here was the stats on:
Composition: 97% Grenache, 3% Syrah.
51.5% Paso Robles, 48.5% Edna Valley AVA
Vineyard Sources: Central Coast AVA
I’ve always liked NxNW but I don’t think I have any handy; I can’t recall what is in the blend these days.
Rosés definitely vary a lot, as of course do the source varietals vary too! And a Northwest wine will always have different character than a Central Coast. (and I do like NW more – just sayin’!)
Been a while since I’ve purchased through casemates, especially since we have a great local wine shop I’ve been making more of an effort to support. However, this one seems too good to pass up, just bought a case.
@karenhynes
I was thinking the same, been watching and thinking…
Normally we’re begging for more cases, perhaps @winedavid49 could split some of them up to make more 6-packs and make this a total sell-out if we ask nicely enough.
ugghh I have never ordered from casemates before, but my wife and I LOVE rrv pinot anythings, and have had very few rrv rose pinots (Minnesota) I hate ordering a case of something i can’t taste first… but…
/giphy imminent-ajar-oil
*edit: thank you giphy, you made me feel better about pulling the trigger
*edit2: damn you giphy, my edit made you less amusing, now I’m freaking out again.
@jemullins yeah, giphy will do that to you. in most cases, each edit will bring up another… though some claim it will rotate through eventually and get back where you started. i’ve learned to just Reply (to my own post) because that way it does not reload the giphy.
It’s in Kansas, ready for UPS. Kansas? Interesting.
That’s all the tracking tells me. I would love to be able to keep an eye on it, since I may need to divert the delivery if I can’t be home on the day it’s scheduled.
@chipgreen Now UPS shows delivery tomorrow. They won’t let me change it until one missed delivery attempt. Weren’t you able to divert your lab rat bottle before the first attempt?
Well, they’ve now updated the delivery date to Friday. Still not ideal, since I won’t be home until late in the day. OTOH, UPS has been delivering quite late recently, so it may yet work out.
This is more than a week ahead of the advertised delivery window (Aug. 10/11). Never thought I’d be the one to complain about a speedy delivery, but never say never. Hopefully the timing will work out and all will be well.
@InFrom Well, no surprise, today there was no delay, so the driver rang around 1 this afternoon. We were still out of town at that point. Hopefully they don’t keep the wine out in the sun all weekend.
WineDavid, just a suggestion, perhaps ensure that the wines you offer are set up in CellarTracker by the time they are sent out for delivery. I am aware that users can add wines to CT, but imho it seems better that either the winery or CM would be best qualified to create. This Square Peg RRV Rose isn’t in CT as of yet. (Btw, it’s a good wine)
@ilCesare@karenhynes Oh I fully respect the service of ilCesare! However that link points to their Estate Rose which was differentiated in the comments for the offering. Not trying to be a pain, just suggesting. If I were to add the wine to CT, bad stuff would likely happen. Go Cubs, and have a great weekend!
@ilCesare@kainc
Ah! It could be that he didn’t keep up with the discussion. Often he (or another member) will correct a CT link.
Maybe we can persuade him to make a more accurate listing. Pretty please @ilCesare???
Much like @kainc, if I try to do it, there will be mayhem.
Verdict-Yummy. Not as tart as the Pedroncelli, but only by a bit. Otherwise similar flavor profile. Bit more complex than the NXNW rose that I adore, so all around a solid buy for summer.
2018 Square Peg Rosé, Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $180/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SD, TX, VA, WA, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 10 - Tuesday, Aug 11
Square Peg Rosé
6 bottles for $59.99 $10/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $99.99 $8.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Square Peg Rosé
@ilCesare Hi Cesare. The CT link above goes to a generic Square Peg page. I don’t think this wine has a CT entry yet.
@ilCesare @InFrom
Actually now that we know this is not the estate, I created a new wine for it. The correct entry is
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3700281
@ilCesare @klezman Thanks!
Hrm. You’re missing at least one state that’s often listed when wine comes from California.
@stinks
It’s not always the state from which it originates.
Some states (CT, for example) require each producer to apply individually to sell/ship there.
It’s a lot of work for nor much reward if a vineyard doesn’t normally sell online and/or is small.
Sounds yummy…rats?
@karenhynes Yes, we need those as well.
Something is amiss here. The 2008 Rose on their website is $40 and has a different label. However, the tasting notes are exactly the same. Can WD or winery clarify? This definitely looks like a great deal if it’s the same rose
@losthighwayz 2018 you mean! But yes, that is interesting. OTOH $40 retail just seems like an extra-high price for a Rose unless it’s something really special.
@losthighwayz @pmarin Seems they make an estate rose with the $40 price tag and this version which is a little harder to find details on.
Hmmm…looks like casemates lifted that note from the wrong wine…
@losthighwayz @pmarin or was supplied that note by the winery
@losthighwayz Yeah, $15 retail seems too low for “ultra-premium winemaking”. I’d expect it would cost more for the “high-end technique of whole cluster pressing.” Then again, if we’re talking about a winery whose “portfolio consists of boutique Estate dry-farmed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel”, I can see how there might be some Pinot Noir and Zinfandel juice just lying around.
@pmarin haha yes 2018. $40 way too high for any rose imo. $30 is pushing it and I cap my rose purchases at $25 but typically buy roses in the $10-$15 range
@losthighwayz, @pmarin, - OMGosh, my apologies, this is my bad. I didn’t update with the new notes. It will be updated shortly but here’s what I got:
Specs:
• Vintage: 2018
• Composition: 50% Zinfandel, 45% Pinot, 5% Syrah.
• Vineyard Sources: Various Russian River Valley AVA Vineyards
• pH: 3.34
• T.A.: 7.1 g/l.
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Residual Sugar: 0.12%
• Whole cluster press
• Fermentation: Stainless steel and neutral French oak
• Cases Produced: 225
Tasting Notes:
Crisp, elegant and refreshing with a slight sparkle on the finish. Subtle notes of peach, pear and melon in harmony with balanced acidity make this Rosé wine excellent on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, seafood and a variety of other foods.
@losthighwayz @pmarin @WCCWineGirl 50 lashes!
@losthighwayz @WCCWineGirl OK thanks for updating the info in this forum section. Note that the main product page (the one you order from) still says “(AbV 12.5%, 70% Pinot Noir & 30% Zinfandel)”
@kaolis @losthighwayz @pmarin 48, 49, 50. Phew! that’s over. On with the day…
@losthighwayz @pmarin
While $40 for our Estate Rose may seem like an extra-high price on the surface, allow me to explain why the Estate Rose is priced where it is and then you can be the judge!
We dry farm all of our grapes which is much more labor intensive and risky than farming an irrigated vineyard. Dry farming produces smaller crop yields at higher prices per acre so before we even make the wine, our costs are substantially higher than traditionally farmed and irrigated vineyards.
We are also certified sustainable. Now sustainable can mean very little or it can mean a lot. In our case we farm at the highest possible level and as organically as possible. All of our canopy management (leaf thinning and shoot positioning) and harvesting is done by hand. Unlike the majority of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, we use absolutely no herbicides meaning we control weeds by hand and mulch. All of our electrical needs are provided by our Solar PVA. We also pay our workers substantially more than minimum wage. So, as you probably already know, sustainability is expensive!
Then there’s the business side: We sell the Estate Rosé (which is made from 100% Estate fruit) for less than we sell our Estate Pinot Noir ($65/bottle) so we need to offset the smaller margin by selling the Rosé for $40/bottle. This may seem to be a bit high but it is quite a bit less than we sell our Pinot Noir for.
Using our dry farmed, Estate Pinot Noir grapes in our Rosé makes for an incomparable, albeit more costly Rosé.
@losthighwayz @square_peg Thanks for the excellent description. Yes, I understand the complexities (and costs) of growing fine Pinot Noir; being near the Willamette Valley, I’ve learned there are just incredible Pinot Noirs that can be had, but they are costly to make, (and to buy!) And as you say, it’s unusual for the finest fruit to be used in a Rosé, so your Estate Rosé does sound like something special I’d love to taste someday!
@square_peg Thanks a lot for your fantastic participation! It really means a lot. Since you mention the “business side”, I’m curious about your production. I see that this RRV Rose had 225 cases, which sounds small to me, so if this is a “large production” run for you guys it must be awful small. How many cases does your estate produce? I’ve been reading about the variability in individual oak barrels (even from the same cooperage, forest, etc), which I’d guess partially explains why blending is so important (even with single varietal wines.) Do you use new oak? If so, how do you handle variability with such small production? (Not looking for trade secrets, just curious)
@KitMarlot
It’s been fun hanging out here! What a great community of well-informed folks with really good comments/questions. Our Estate case production fluctuates between 2500 – 3000 cases per year.
We do use a percentage of new French oak for Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Barrel variability, availability and affordability are all challenges for small producers. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a winemaker who (in addition to having nearly 40 years’ experience making wine) has his own brand and winery. He purchases a significant number of barrels every year and simply orders a few extra for me. Most of the barrels he purchases are allocated to winemakers who have a history with the cooper. It would be very difficult for a small winery such as Square Peg to have access to these sought-after barrels without a connection to an established winemaker.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Square Peg Rosé - $20 = 16.66%
Square Peg Rose
When the UPS driver showed up for a second time in one day, I had my suspicions, and they were quickly confirmed as I tore open the package to find a bottle of 2018 Square Peg Rosé. We love Russian River Valley pinot noir so they got a free star right off the bat.
Fortunately, the bottle hadn’t warmed up much in transit. After a brief chill in the fridge I popped the cork and checked the temp: 63. That’s about where we like to drink rose (though I know some prefer colder).
Immediate thoughts:
Lovely coppery salmon
Slowly developed legs
Smells tart, maybe some peach notes
On the tongue, I got “wine” flavor… it is crisp and lightly acidic, but I had a very hard time teasing out individual flavors. It was well balanced, a hint of spicy tingle on the palette, and with a nice smooth finish. Just not a lot that stood out.
My wife’s thoughts: “I taste apple and pear. I really like it.”
We finished the first glasses on the balcony. Very refreshing in the squinty bright sun. The rest of the bottle accompanied a dinner of roast chicken and root veggies. The Square Peg had enough going on to cut through the flavors of dinner here but I think not a heavier meal (red meat or tomato sauce).
Some history… we drink a lot of white and rose in the summertime as a change of pace. If you have made recent purchases, we enjoyed this MORE than the Mulderbosch Rose from June 25th, which I found somewhat bitter. The Square Peg is on par with the Fossil Point Rose from May 12th which we liked a lot. I would need to do a head-to-head between them to say for sure but I remember the Fossil Point having a little more distinctive flavor profile.
@eburke any interesting info on the back label?
@eburke Great review. I find the comparison’s helpful.
@kaolis I don’t have the bottle handy to confirm, but I believe this wording, from the web site for the Estate Rose, is identical. “[…] is a crisp, elegant wine with a lively and refreshing finish. Characterized by subtle notes of peach, pear and melon, it’s the perfect choice to enjoy on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, seafood, and a variety of other foods.”
I specifically remember their note about “subtle notes of peach, pear, and melon”.
If I was a betting man, I would say it’s the same exact wine and they did another round of labels so that they could keep the two price points.
@eburke seems there was indeed a little mix-up in specs and notes given (now corrected) and it is two different wines. But I was wondering the same thing at first.
@eburke @kaolis Now that we know the “blend” is different, I’m curious about the sourcing of the Pinot Noir. Is it the same as in the other blend; maybe just a few leftover barrels to use up to make this blend? Or from different sources?
@eburke @kaolis @pmarin
Because I’ve been growing grapes in the Russian River Valley for almost 30 years I’ve established some great relationships with many of the local growers and I’m frequently approached by growers with excess fruit to sell. Such was the case in 2018, when I was contacted by several growers offering quality grapes at very good prices. The fruit was picked early (which made the growers happy and made for great Rosé) and we made the Rosé blend that’s being offered today at the same time as we were making our Estate Rosé. This made the winemaker happy because instead of making a minuscule quantity of Estate Rose, he was able to more efficiently utilize the wine-making equipment by making our Estate Rosé at the same time he was making the non-estate RRV blend that’s being offered today. We created a new label for this lower priced, non-estate Square Peg that utilizes grapes sourced from several vineyards in the Russian River Valley.
@square_peg and that’s why i’m not a betting man. My track record is awful.
Thanks for the clarification.
@eburke
My pleasure. And as far as betting goes, my track record is likely more awful than yours. In 1998, I chose to plant Zinfandel in the one of the finest places in CA to grow Pinot Noir because I was betting (wrongly) that Pinot Noir was over-planted. And this was well in advance of Pinot’s Sideways bump in 2004! I’m not sorry about planting Zin mind you, I just wish I’d planted a little Pinot back then.
@eburke @square_peg I’ve had excellent RRV Zinfandel - Harvest Moon comes to mind. Randy does some excellent stuff with his estate fruit. Do you also produce a cooler climate Zin that might find its way here? I’m always looking for more interesting and lower alcohol expressions of the grape.
@kaolis Ok I dug the bottle out of the recycling bin to make sure I wasn’t crazy in confusing the Estate Rose vs this offering.
“Our Russion River Valley Rosé is a crisp elegant wine with a slightly effervescent and refreshing finish. Characterized by subtle notes of peach, pear, and melon it’s the perfect choice to enjoy on its own or to pair with pasta, grilled meats, and seafood, and a variety of other foods.”
So, “slightly effervescent and refreshing finish” vs “lively and refreshing finish”. @square_peg you may need to hire a copy writer.
@eburke @square_peg I guess we’re back to copy/paste and the argument not what’s on the web but what’s in the bottle?
@kaolis no no that’s not what I meant. I’m sure they are different. But the description on the label for our Rose, and what they have on their website for the Estate Rose, are very very very similar and i’m just poking fun.
@eburke @kaolis I am just glad it is not the standard marketing person copy/paste like “Wine is a tradition for all times and this wine is produced with joy and harmony in mind to enjoy with your friends .” or something totally useless like that. Though perhaps “lively and refreshing” is equally inane. (sorry, harsh!)
@eburke @kaolis @pmarin
While we all expect that on a label, at least, here, we have an engaging winemaker talking about whats inside, and not just spewing platitudes.
For that, I am grateful.
@eburke @kaolis
There’s been comedy of errors with regards to the Estate Rose notes and the RRV Rosé being offered here today. To clarify things: Both wines are similar in style with the Estate being more “Provencal” than the wine being offered here. The non-Estate has a bit more residual sugar than the Estate, is slightly darker in color than the Estate with a bigger nose and a touch more fruit. It showcases less minerality and is not as complex as the Estate. It (the Casemates offering) is drinking quite beautifully at the moment.
@eburke @klezman
I really enjoy Harvest Moon wines! Their Estate is 6 miles +/- to the east of our Estate at an elevation of 100’ +/- vs. our elevation of 800’. All of our Zins are low alcohol (13.9% for the 2017). Sadly, because our production is so small, we won’t be offering them on Casemates. Sorry about that.
@square_peg
Speaking of RS, what are the units cited in the specs?
@rjquillin @square_peg The RS with that number looks like it should be in percent - g/100 ml. As g/l that would be ridiculously small, and anything more would have this no longer being dry.
@rjquillin
The RS is 0.12%
@square_peg
Thanks, updated the specs.
As you mentioned, things have been a bit mixed up today.
Nice to have you hanging out with us.
@square_peg I’m snooty and had a low opinion of known winemakers using purchased “excess” fruit, but then I had a Hawley Viognier (offered on Casemates 5/28/2020) made with non-estate grapes from Mendocino. Do you often make wines with purchased fruit? If so, would you be willing to offer them here? Please?
@KitMarlot
As you’ve discovered, occasionally you can find a great wine made from “excess” grapes. The difficulty is in determining the pedigree of the excess grapes. We don’t often make wines from excess fruit but if we do, you’ll see it here.
Oh! I’m surprised to see a cork closure (and if I’m being honest, less than pleased, call me lazy but I like Stelvin closures for summer sippers on the porch).
@sandbarhappy while I’m not wild about 'em, I agree that screwcaps make a lot more sense for Rose (and other wines that are best fresh.)
@KitMarlot @sandbarhappy
With a relic armstrong device like that one, I can easily see why some may prefer a twisty.
@rjquillin LOL. Relic is right… it’s from the bar tool set we got at our wedding.
For years I used a compact OXO continuous twist model that they don’t make any more. After it broke I went back to old faithful.
I am getting use to screw tops… but there’s just something about popping the cork on a bottle of wine that says…take THAT! to the work day, the stress or whatever I am relaxing toward to try to forget for a little bit… I am just old and like the cork
@byoungbd1 I actually have the opposite feeling – I love the “screw tops,” as does my mother who is 91 years old and still enjoys her daily glass of wine. I certainly prefer them over the synthetic corks, and am mixed on natural corks – as you know there’s decades of research and debates on wine closure tech, though no clear “winner.”
I also remember when Randall Graham (of Bonny Doon at the time) was a proponent of the screw-caps on “good” wine, and as a statement, put the screwcap first on his flagship “most expensive” wine to prove a point. This would have been around 1990.
For the Rosé in this offer, I’m assuming it’s likely using the cork closure because the same line was bottling other products like the Estate Rosé, and probably doesn’t have the equipment or materials (empty bottles) to use the other closures. Obviously it only makes sense to do that if there is already a bottling operation set up for that.
@pmarin yes, I think I should just get over the sound of the cork … the screw tops do make more sense…it’s totally just a “feel” or “aesthetic” thing I am use to…prob lends to my ocd a bit
@byoungbd1 It’s funny you say (“sound of the cork”) – about 35 years ago I was traveling in France for a technology company (at the time I was about 22 so it was cool to travel to Europe and have everything paid-for!). I worked with really nice guy from our France office (a friend I still have contact with). When we ordered wine at a restaurant, and the waiter opened the bottle, he had an expression in French which he translated as “who calls me?”
@byoungbd1 Also reminded me of another story (this is just for general education of us here). I would try to get the last drop out of the bottle. He had another expression, which he said meant you would be “hanged or married within a year.” And he said they could be the same thing (you can interpret that many ways; though in fairness he has been happily married and has a son that is now well grown-up). So I just did a quick search and found this:
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/married-or-hanged.364227/
@pmarin oh I love this! “who calls me?” that sums it up!
@pmarin sounds like good times with good company… so it is like our thing where we pull petals off of a rose sort of… this will be very nice party or business dinner conversation!
So I have purchased at least 5 cases of the NXNW Rose and also a case of the Fossil Point and my wife and I definitely prefer the NXNW over the Fossil Point. The tasting notes seem to place this closer to the NXNW but I would be curious to hear thoughts from others.
I did not order the Fossil Point (actually I was going to, and then by the time I remembered, it had switched to the next deal.) But here was the stats on:
Composition: 97% Grenache, 3% Syrah.
51.5% Paso Robles, 48.5% Edna Valley AVA
Vineyard Sources: Central Coast AVA
I’ve always liked NxNW but I don’t think I have any handy; I can’t recall what is in the blend these days.
Rosés definitely vary a lot, as of course do the source varietals vary too! And a Northwest wine will always have different character than a Central Coast. (and I do like NW more – just sayin’!)
/giphy humdrum-brawny-brick
@cdn1127 now there’s something you don’t see everyday. He looks a stockbroker. So I guess this means we’re headed for a Bear Market?
/giphy wicked-grieving-laugh
@irenegade /buy?
@InFrom LOL!
@irenegade Don’t you think the Queens contingent needs to give this one a try?
@irenegade
/buy -q 6
JK! The sixes are sold out, anyway. I got a case. I’ll let you know when it’s in.
/giphy mostly-nasally-jackrabbit
I am willing to keep fewer than six, if anyone else local is interested.
Been a while since I’ve purchased through casemates, especially since we have a great local wine shop I’ve been making more of an effort to support. However, this one seems too good to pass up, just bought a case.
ominous-numberless-loris
Love me some rose. Thanks casemates.
Waited too long. Six packs sold out. Oh well…perhaps next time.
@karenhynes
I was thinking the same, been watching and thinking…
Normally we’re begging for more cases, perhaps @winedavid49 could split some of them up to make more 6-packs and make this a total sell-out if we ask nicely enough.
Anyone in SoCal/SD have a couple extras?
ugghh I have never ordered from casemates before, but my wife and I LOVE rrv pinot anythings, and have had very few rrv rose pinots (Minnesota) I hate ordering a case of something i can’t taste first… but…
/giphy imminent-ajar-oil
*edit: thank you giphy, you made me feel better about pulling the trigger
*edit2: damn you giphy, my edit made you less amusing, now I’m freaking out again.
@jemullins eh second edit made it … ok… ill take it and say meh.
@jemullins yeah, giphy will do that to you. in most cases, each edit will bring up another… though some claim it will rotate through eventually and get back where you started. i’ve learned to just Reply (to my own post) because that way it does not reload the giphy.
I see Medina county lit up on the map and @boatman72 swears it wasn’t him! Do we have a new Casemates peep from NE OH? Identify yourself!
It’s in Kansas, ready for UPS. Kansas? Interesting.
That’s all the tracking tells me. I would love to be able to keep an eye on it, since I may need to divert the delivery if I can’t be home on the day it’s scheduled.
@chipgreen Now UPS shows delivery tomorrow. They won’t let me change it until one missed delivery attempt. Weren’t you able to divert your lab rat bottle before the first attempt?
Well, they’ve now updated the delivery date to Friday. Still not ideal, since I won’t be home until late in the day. OTOH, UPS has been delivering quite late recently, so it may yet work out.
This is more than a week ahead of the advertised delivery window (Aug. 10/11). Never thought I’d be the one to complain about a speedy delivery, but never say never. Hopefully the timing will work out and all will be well.
@InFrom
Yes, I redirected it while it was out for delivery. Maybe they allowed it because it was shipped via overnight?
@chipgreen @InFrom
Mine shows being initiated from Kansas as well.
@InFrom Well, no surprise, today there was no delay, so the driver rang around 1 this afternoon. We were still out of town at that point. Hopefully they don’t keep the wine out in the sun all weekend.
WineDavid, just a suggestion, perhaps ensure that the wines you offer are set up in CellarTracker by the time they are sent out for delivery. I am aware that users can add wines to CT, but imho it seems better that either the winery or CM would be best qualified to create. This Square Peg RRV Rose isn’t in CT as of yet. (Btw, it’s a good wine)
@kainc
Our dear @ilCesare posts a Cellar Tracker link for each Casemates offer. It’s usually in the first or second post in the offer discussion link.
Here’s his link from above:
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3251879
Cheers!
@ilCesare @karenhynes Oh I fully respect the service of ilCesare! However that link points to their Estate Rose which was differentiated in the comments for the offering. Not trying to be a pain, just suggesting. If I were to add the wine to CT, bad stuff would likely happen. Go Cubs, and have a great weekend!
@ilCesare @kainc
Ah! It could be that he didn’t keep up with the discussion. Often he (or another member) will correct a CT link.
Maybe we can persuade him to make a more accurate listing. Pretty please @ilCesare???
Much like @kainc, if I try to do it, there will be mayhem.
@ilCesare @kainc @karenhynes
It’s not like he’s raking in the big bucks on this, and the hours are pretty miserable as well.
A long time trooper!
and a tip of the
@ilCesare @kainc @karenhynes I created this one during the sale, I think.
@ilCesare @kainc @karenhynes @klezman
At least do it right and put up an image and populate the specs.
Initial post amended.
@ilCesare @kainc @rjquillin
A trooper, indeed! And his efforts are most appreciated!
Verdict-Yummy. Not as tart as the Pedroncelli, but only by a bit. Otherwise similar flavor profile. Bit more complex than the NXNW rose that I adore, so all around a solid buy for summer.