There is little doubt that Wolffer Estate Vineyard‘s rose is the unofficial wine of the Hamptons — or at least the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day Hamptons season. You’ll find it all over — on restaurant lists, at events, by the pool, at the beach and out on boats.
It’s seemingly everywhere. And winemaker Roman Roth makes a lot of it — more than 17,000 cases this year, which dwarfs the total production of most Long Island wineries.
Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Rose ($17*) is made with 58% merlot, 24% chardonnay, 11% cabernet franc 6% pinot noir and 1% cabernet sauvignon and shows aromas of white peaches, jasmine tea, red grapefruit and green apple. As it warms a bit, there is an herbal-spice note that emerges that reminds me of curry leaf.
Dry but not austere or harsh, the fresh, medium-bodied palate is much more citrusy than the nose, driven by lime and grapefruit flavors, with peach and earthy minerals in the background. A bit of residual CO2 really enlivens the palate and helps it pair with a wide range of non-red meat foods. The finish drops off fairly quicklky, but this is a straightforward sipper that I’d compare to summer in a bottle if they didn’t just release another 2013 rose under that moniker. Look for that review next week.
(2.5 out of 5, Average-to-Very Good)