2021 RMS Brut Rosé
ABOUT THE RMS BRUT ROSÉ
Having founded Oregon’s first sparkling wine production facility, Argyle Winery, it’s only natural that Rollin would bring his 30+ years of sparkling expertise to ROCO.
During his 27+ years with Argyle, Rollin crafted some of the most highly acclaimed New World sparkling wines, which made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines three times, proof that he has mastered the sophisticated craft of fine Méthode Champenoise. Rollin’s vision has become a reality as the world continues to discover that the Willamette Valley’s cool, maritime climate is indeed ideally suited to world-class sparkling wine production.
THE MÉTHODE CHAMPENOISE PROCESS
Ripe but high acidity wine grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are gently and slowly pressed. The heart juice of the grape berry is collected and fermented in small French Oak barrels to produce a tart still wine. Then, in late winter, this wine is given a small, precise amount of sugar with a sparkling wine yeast. Pushed into a capped Champagne bottle, a second fermentation ensues for about four weeks. The bottles of wine, yeast, and lots of bubbles are then aged in cool storage for 2.5 years. Next, the wine bottles are riddled, or shaken and turned upside down, causing the yeast residue to collect behind the crown cap for removal. Once the yeast is removed, or disgorged, a carefully calibrated “dose” of a few milliliters of a rich wine and sugar mix is added to each bottle prior to corking and wire basketing. The result is delicious sparkling wine. Cheers!
2021 VINTAGE NOTES
The Spring start to 2021 was one of the driest on record. Heaps of sunshine and warmth gave us the prospect of a nice crop of wine grapes. We received a shot of cold, wet drizzle just as the clusters bloomed. The result was relatively poor pollination, limiting a potentially large crop.
Summer progressed normally until record heat arrived July 25th—28th. By plan, most of our vineyards are set up to drip irrigate if necessary. Watering the vines a couple of days before July 25th seemed to allow them to “weather” the heat.
Harvest began with Sparkling and Pinot Nero Bianco on August 31st, which had great acidity and fruit flavor. Much of our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was harvested under sunny Fall skies. A refreshingly cold rain dropped snow down to 5500’ on September 19th and 28th, benefitting our later-ripening Pinots! The last day of harvest was October 14th. Six weeks of picking and grinning!
The wines are delicious and do not lack acidity. Due to our ability to drip-irrigate vines and chill whole clusters at the winery, fruit expression is concentrated and fresh.
TASTING NOTES
Vibrant aromas of ruby red grapefruit, fresh raspberries, hints of strawberry, and pink currant. The palate is light and delicate, offering layers of creamy strawberry, blood orange, and lingering red grapefruit. A touch of baking spice and tangy rose hip preserves adds complexity to the finish.
