While there’s been a trend to very lightly colored rosé in the Northwest, David Specter in the Chehalem Mountains above Newberg, Ore., presents a gorgeously rosy rosé from two Pinot Noir clones — Pommard and Dijon 667 — harvested Oct. 3 from 9-acre vineyard he planted in 2013 along Bell Road. Pink strawberry, dusty Rainier cherry and boysenberry aromas and flavors are presented with some texture and pleasing dryness that’s bright yet not edgy, thanks in part to four months in neutral oak prior to bottling. Specter, a French horn player, dotes on this project, which represents about 20% of his total production at Bells Up, and he names to commemorate Symphonic Poem No. 3: Les Preludes by 19th century Hungarian composer Franz Liszt.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 109 cases
Alcohol: 13.5%
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