2011 DIVISION ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR

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Vintage Box Score

Harvest Date: 10/23/2011 - 10/25/2011

Sugar at Harvest: 21.8 - 22.4 degrees brix

Varietal: Pinot Noir Dijon Clones 777 & Pommard

Production: 132 Cases

Final pH: 3.38

Final Alcohol: 12.7% by vol

Residual Sugar: 0.4% by weight

Winemaking Notes: 60% pressed, 20% foot pressed & 20% saignée

Fermentation & Aging: 80% stainless steel & 20% neutral French oak barrels

Kate stomping the 2011 Pinot Noir grapes for Rosé!

The Division 2011 Rosé of Pinot Noir is back and is ready to quench a warm day thirst or pair with a perfect summer meal! We again looked to the Loire Valley rosés as they are typically drier, higher acidity and more structured. Pinot Noir, while an expensive grape to use for any rosé, is the most abundant and perfect choice for a crisp Willamette Valley offering. The 2011 version is nearly identical in color to the 2010 Rosé and is very similar in character too. After the tremendous success of the 2010 Rosé, we are quite pleased to offer up similarly excellent dry Rosé!

For 2011, we utilized grapes we sourced from our two favorite vineyards, the Cherry Grove Vineyard and Eola-Springs Vineyard. The breakdown was approximately .75 tons of Dijon 777 Pinot Noir from the Cherry Grove Vineyard and .5 tons of Pommard Pinot Noir from the Eola-Springs Vineyard. A small amount of saignée from the fermenters was pulled a day after going in. A Division tradition was started in 2010 with foot pressing a portion of the rosé (see the photo) during harvest! Our new variable capacity 1000 liter stainless steel tank was used to ferment most of the Rosé, with the remaining fermented “sur lie” in a neutral white French Burgundy barrel. After a nice rest, we bottled the 2011 Division Rosé of Pinot Noir in March, 2012.

2010 & 2011 Rosé of Pinot Noir color contest... Very similar, which one is which?!?

We are hoping to start a trend with our rosé and again feel proud that we achieved the style we were seeking. The 2011 Division Rosé of Pinot Noir is dry, a little more fruity than 2010, and again relatively high acid with a pale salmon color. This wine has a tad more structure than 2010, with a long lingering finish. We find the wine to be aromatically similar to watermelon, some wet slate and summer peaches, which is somewhat reminiscent of 2010, but not quite as rose floral. We feel the taste follows the watermelon notes and is quite crisp with a green apple jolly rancher finish. As always, Pair with Good Times, Good Food and Good People!