Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich recalls the lead-up to the 2006 vintage well: Torrential winter rains caused mudslides and floods, and, for a few days, Anderson Valley was virtually cut off from the rest of...
Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich recalls the lead-up to the 2006 vintage well: Torrential winter rains caused mudslides and floods, and, for a few days, Anderson Valley was virtually cut off from the rest of civilization. That abundant soil moisture led to a bumper crop of plump, healthy berries. L’Ermitage Rosé draws on many of the vintage’s choice lots of pinot noir and chardonnay, supported by barrel-aged reserve chardonnay from the 2003 vintage. This leads with a leafy scent of barely ripe pinot noir, autumnal and quiet, supported by a delicate toasty impression from seven years on its lees in bottle. With air, it blooms from cherry tomato skin and herbs into more lifted territory, suggesting red raspberries and rose petals, the fruit gaining plumpness and depth without losing its firm, vinous structure. It’s a savory sparkling wine to decant or age, and it would provide a perfect partner for gently smoked salmon. (595 cases)