60 Days of Rosé | #07 | Kivelstadt Cellars | Twice Removed Rosé | Venturi Vineyard, Mendocino County | $17.99
We have been utterly enchanted by the elegant wines lovingly ‘hand-and-foot-crafted’ by Kivelstadt Cellars.
We kicked off our snapping up of Kivelstadt Cellars wine with the craveable KC Labs Syrah. Once we got that luscious syrah on our shelves, we said “We need more wine!” as we often do and asked for every drop available to us.
Soon after us pushing the button on more Kivelstadt, Mother of Invention | White Rhone Blend, Old Wyves Tale | Carignane, and Native Son 2016 | Charbono established their shelf space within our popular ‘Natural & Native’ wine section.
When you think about the hundreds of thousands of places in the US to purchase wine… 876 cases Kivelstadt Cellars Twice Removed Rosé is incredibly rare (aside from being delicious!) so claim your bottle while you can.
Overview –
Kivelstadt Cellars | Twice Removed Rosé – Don’t I know you?
This blend of 60% Carignane and 40% Grenache is styled after its Provençale cousins from southern France. The grapes are harvested early, then lightly foot stomped and allowed to cold soak overnight to extract color and texture before the juice is pressed off and fermented in stainless steel. This bone-dry rosé possesses vibrant acidity, notes of strawberry and watermelon and a hint of kiwi on the finish.
Twice Removed feels like family. Not like the family you know, more like distant cousins, back from adventures abroad. Made straight from whole cluster pressed grapes, not with the extra juice destined for the drain. Once you get to know this Rosé, you’ll feel like old friends.
- Jordan Kivelstadt / Winemaker
Our Story –
Kivelstadt Cellars was founded for our love of amazing California vineyards. After leaving a career in consulting in his early twenties, Jordan Kivelstadt traveled the world making wine in California, Australia, Chile and Argentina.
In 2007, Jordan made 125 cases of Estate Syrah. He drew inspiration both from his winemaking experiences in the new world and his family’s passion for European cuisine, art and wine culture. Hence our focus became exploring the product of incredible California vineyards, with a nod toward the rich history and balance of the old world wines that came before us.
Since the inaugural 2007 vintage, our production has grown to 3,500 cases annually. We strive to create wines of intrigue that maintain a fun and approachable style and challenge the status quo of conventional California wines.
Overview –
Years ago Kivelstadt Cellars was only an idea, the idea that people deserve to drink wines with soul. These wines would come from vineyards with heritage , farmed with the utmost respect for nature , and fermented with low intervention . A combination of these ideals has evolved into a lifestyle. A lifestyle which vintage after vintage results in delicious wine’s which pay homage to California’s terroir. Doesn’t everyone love rose? When it’s made like this it i s the perfect thing to quench your afternoon thirst! Produced from grapes picked only for rose this elegant wine will go head to head with any bottle from Frances famed Provence.
Varieties –
Carignane ( 60 %) Grenache Noir ( 40 %)
Production –
876 Cases Vineyards: Venturi Vineyard, Mendocino County AVA
Analysis –
EtOH: 1 3 . 1 % pH: 3.35 TA: 6.2 g/L VA: .34 FSO2: 22 ppm ML : 10 0 %
Grape Details –
A little known fact is that Carignane doesn’t originate from Southern Frances Languedoc Roussillon, the region that made it famous. The grape actually evolved in North – East Spain’s Aragon region where it is know as Mazuelo. Carignane is vigorous, highly productive, late budding; mildew prone, late ripening and produces wines that are high in color, tannin, acid and flavor. All of these characteristics make it perfectly suited for Norther n California and extended life.
As these vines get older and older, their fruit gets more and more concentrated. Grenache Noir or Granacha Tinta in Spain is an ancient variety that has undergone many mutations effecting berry color (Blanc, Gris and Rouge can all be found). Grenache has long been thought to originate from Spain, but current DNA analysis has started a debate as to whether it originated in Spain or Sardinia, where it is called Cannonau. Grenache Noir is Frances Second most widely planted gr ape, which implicates its importance in Frances wine tradition. It is also the base of Southern Rhone Blends from famed regions such as Chauteauneuf-du-Pape. This relatively early budding, but late ripening grape is great for hot climates (such as California!).
Color is dependent on yield and can range from light and bright to dark and brooding. A fun Viticultural fact is that Grenache is highly resistant to eutypa die back, which explains it’s miraculous longevity.
Soils –
Venturi Vineyard is located just north of Ukiah, in the Calpella Valley, on predominantly Pinole gravelly loam soils. Containing a mixture of sandstone, shale and quartz, these deep, well – drained soils were formed from alluvial flows, depositing fist – sized stones along the way. Highly deficient in organic matter, the moderately acidic soil pH allows for optimal nutrient uptake to allow the vines to thrive. Pinole soils are some of the most sought after soil types in Mendocino County. Farming: Larry Venturi is a 3rd generation farmer tending to vines planted on his family’s historic site in Calpella (Ukiah), in Mendocino County. Planted in the late 1940’s, this nearly 70 year – old vineyard is still amazingly healthy and produc tive. The vines are head trained and have been dry farmed since inception. Farming is certified organic.
Vintage –
2017 was a tumultuous growing season to say the least. It was the first season in many years that had significant rainfall in the winter and spring. This provided a much needed respite from the years of drought that had plagued California. A very hot August kicked harvest off quickly, but September was relatively mild and cool. There was a devastating fire late in the season, which tore through vineyards and more importantly impacted the lives of many California.
Vinification –
The Grenache and Carignane were harvested on the same day from Venturi Vineyard. We foot stomped the grapes in the picking bins, put dry ice on top, wrapped the bins with shrink wrap and left the m to soak overnight. This enabled us to extra just a pit of color out of the grapes. We love our rose to be a dull pink to Salmon color. Next the fruit was pressed whole cluster and co – fermented in stainless steel tank. After primary fermentation ended , the wine is racked off of the lees and malo lactic fermentation is blocked.
Tasting Notes –
The wine is light and steely with a vain of acid all the way through. Aromas are punctuated by bright cranberry and savor herbs. By using grape varieties made fa mous in the Rhone we attain a mid palate that makes this perfect with light food or alone!
