07 Aug Please The Palate Wine of the Week: March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley

Rosé is made from so many different grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and more. But the March Wines rosé is made from St. Laurent, a grape that originated in Austria and is thought to be a crossing of Pinot Noir and an unknown parent. While the origin of the grape may be unknown, I know that the March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

St. Laurent is a highly aromatic dark-skinned wine grape variety. Typical notes include raspberry, blackberry, sweet tobacco, baking spices and chocolate. Think of it like a deeper colored, meatier version of Pinot Noir.

March Wines sources the St. Laurent from Ricci Vineyard in the cool Carneros region of Sonoma. The Ricci Vineyard is home to the first and only three acres of St. Laurent in all of California. Dale Ricci, owner of Ricci Vineyard, planted St. Laurent after falling in love with the wine when traveling in Austria.

The March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley is made in the Provence style with the grapes being direct pressed. The wine is cold fermented to enhance aromatics and then stirred on the less. The resulting wine is a bright salmon pink color with bright fruit aromatics and lovely fresh lively acidity on the palate.

There are only 28 cases of March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley, which is available for $25. March Wines are the only producers of Rose of St. Laurent in California so order a bottle today.