When rock started getting heavier in the 1960’s do you remember “The Battle of the Bands” which in our modern day parlance is a rock festival. May the best band win was determined by the loudness of the claps in the audience. I think they still exist although I haven’t heard of one in Toronto for some time.
Can we have a Battle of the Rosés or is that fair considering differing styles of rosés? Oh what the heck may the best Okanagan rosé win. I’ll be the audience.
The first rosé up on the stage is a Mayhem 2021 Rosé from the Okanagan Valley. It has a light pink colour so I am not expecting heavy guitars to be wailing. As for aromatics very solid aromas here. Raspberry, watermelon, strawberry and Orri Tangerine peel in a frame of rose petal jam. The palate is weighty and solid. It ain’t no Beach Boy harmony more along Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused”. The acids (not that type of acid man) are well in check thank goodness but they are perky enough to handle a field tomato salad. The palate has notes of fresh baked raspberry waffles, sweet red cherries and cactus pears. It finishes off its performance with an Eaglelish tune “Hotel Kelowna”. The finish is short and dry. Perfect for grilled or roasted baby goat or eggplant and potato gratin. The audience meter gives it an 89/100.
The grapes were destemmed after being hand harvested. Aged 89% in stainless steel and 11% in neutral oak. 220 cases were produced.
Best bet is to order from the winery at www.mayhemwines.com
(Mayhem BC VQA 2021 Rosé, Okanagan Valley, Mayhem Wines, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, $20.87, 750 mL, 13%, RKS Wine Rating 89/100).
The next rosé taking the stage has a refined Pinot Noir heritage with its massive hit “Heartbreak Grape”. It has a darker complexion than the Mayhem rosé. On the nose it also has a more assertive nose with hints of its Pinot Noir heritage such as notes of raspberry, cherry and bits of strawberry. On the palate it seems slightly less acidic than Mayhem rosé and there is a bit more fruit on its palate with riffs of watermelon, cranberry and raspberry. The finish is longer than the Mayhem. As for food matches the same as for the Mayhem. It finishes off its performance with “My Okanaganie Achy Breakey Heart”. Audience meter reads 91/100). It wins $200,000 and the “Pat Burns CKGO You Are on the Line Doll Award”.
Unfortunately a scant 122 cases were produced.50% fermented in older oak barrels and 50% in stainless steel. The oak fermentation seems to diffuse the acidity a tad and gives the wine more mouthfeel than the Mayhem.
Best to contact the winery for availability and shipping at www.mfvwines.com
(Meyer Family Vineyards BC VQA, 2021 Rosé, Okanagan Valley, Meyer Family Vineyards, Okanagan Falls British Columbia, $20.96,750 mL, 13.5%, RKS Wine Rating 91/100).
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