Director of winemaking Gilles Nicault continues to dazzle with this rosé from Pinot Gris, and his experiences in Provence show in beautiful fashion as he pulls off The Benches Vineyard near Wallula Gap. That dramatic site overlooking the Columbia River upstream from McNary Dam allows the affable Nicault to prove once again that Pinot Noir isn’t the only Burgundy variety suitable for rosé. He extracts just enough pigment for its light salmon color and present aromas and flavors of strawberry-rhubarb compote, peach nectar and raspberry. Expect understated elegance rather than flash as the residual sugar of 0.5% is veiled. Long Shadows proprietor Allen Shoup, who named this for his granddaughter, continues to grow the audience for this style of rosé, doubling production since the 2013 vintage while shaving the residual in half. And during the first week of spring, this young Julia’s Dazzle merited a gold medal at Sonoma-based Rose Today judging as well as best of class at the 2017 Cascadia Wine Competition.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 10,276 cases
Alcohol: 14.1%
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