Husch Vineyards Rosé
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Named for the iconic red Blaze roses covering the Husch tasting room, the Blaze Rosé is crafted from the grapes grown on the notable Talmage Bench of inland Mendocino County.
- The Garzini Vineyard is just one of a dozen plantings pioneered a hundred years ago by Italian immigrants to this growing region.
- Winemaker Brad has always had an inkling that these ancient vines could build an amazing dry rosé, full of vibrant fruit and subtle floral notes.
Varietal Composition: 100% Zinfandel
Elaboration: Cold fermented in steel tanks. 5 month maturation in tank. Heat spikes followed by surprise rain and a cool end to the growing season made 2022 a challenging vintage. Keeping a close eye on our Zinfandel grapes, we hand-picked this fruit in the early hours of the morning. At the winery the cold grapes were loaded into our press, where we gently squeezed them to separate the light colored juice from the dark colored grape skins. The pink juice was then cold-fermented using a favorite yeast strain and bottled quickly to preserve the delicate nuances in this fresh wine.
Tasting Notes: Crisp and food-friendly! The 2022 Blaze Rosé is bright, complex and finishes dry. White peach, grapefruit, orange blossoms, and wet stone on the nose lead into subtle watermelon rind and more of that delightful stone fruit on the palate. Steely acid and a zesty mouthfeel carry through to a smooth finish.
PRESS
n/a
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Founded in 1971, Husch is the oldest winery in the picturesque Anderson Valley. The vineyards are comprised of some of the earliest varietal plantings on the valley floor. In 1967 Tony and Gretchen Husch bought the 60-acre Nunn ranch between Philo and Navarro on Highway 128. The land was well known for growing apples and grains. They soon planted eight acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer grapes on the cool slopes of the property. The plantings sweep down towards the pristine Navarro River. The first official crush was in the fall of 1971.
In 1979, Hugo Oswald Jr. bought the 6,000 case Husch Winery from the Husch family. The Oswald family had been growing pears in the Santa Clara Valley, but when the area was expanding they sold the land and headed for the southern tip of Mendocino County. Today Husch Vineyards remains owned and operated by the 3rd Generation of the Oswald family: Zac Robinson and Amanda Robinson Holstine. Winemaking is under the direction of Brad Holstine (Amanda’s husband). Al White, in charge of all viticulture operations, has been with Husch since 1974. Through the years Husch has modernized and expanded, but it has never lost its initial rustic charm or reputation for great wines.