Charles & Charles Rose 2018
Charles & Charles Rose 2018 is a 750mL dry rosé from Washington's Columbia Valley AVA — a Syrah-led blend (71% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Grenache, 2% Counoise, 1% Cinsault) grown in vineyards dedicated entirely to rosé, not bled off from red wine. Pale salmon in the glass, it runs wild raspberry and cherry into citrus, lavender and rose petal. Wine Enthusiast scored the 2018 a 90-point Best Buy and Vinous gave it 92. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- Size: 750mL (ABV — see flag; 2018 US reviews list 12.6%)
- Blend: 71% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Grenache, 2% Counoise, 1% Cinsault
- Appellation: Columbia Valley AVA, Washington
- Vineyards: 100% purpose-grown for rosé (2018 release)
- Scores: Wine Enthusiast 90 / Best Buy; Vinous 92 (both 2018)
- Closure: Screw cap
Two Charleses, One Rosé Obsession
Charles & Charles began in 2008 as the collaboration of two of American wine's most restless names: Charles Smith, the former rock manager behind K Vintners and Charles Smith Wines, and Charles Bieler, whose family has made rosé in Provence since 1992 and who championed dry rosé in the US years before it was fashionable. Their rosé has always been the project's calling card — Washington fruit handled with a Provençal sensibility, from vineyards planted and farmed specifically for rosé, with Trinchero Family Estates handling the wine since 2013. The 2018 is the mature statement of that idea. Find the project on the Bieler and Smith vendor page or browse more rosé wine and wine at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale salmon with coppery-pink flashes. Nose: Wild raspberry and cherry with watermelon, strawberry and kiwi, citrus, Herbes de Provence, lavender and a strong rose-petal note (winemaker notes; Wine Enthusiast). Palate: Broad and almost creamy through the middle, red berry, blood orange and bitter cherry, with tart pink-grapefruit freshness. Finish: Tangy, bright and mouthwatering, with a mineral-floral lift (Vinous).
How to Enjoy
Well chilled, with food built for rosé: the brand's own pairing is a strawberry salad with goat cheese, and the wine's acidity and grip handle grilled salmon, charcuterie and Mediterranean plates just as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in the 2018 Charles & Charles Rosé? A Syrah-led Rhône-style blend: 71% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Mourvèdre, 4% Grenache, 2% Counoise and 1% Cinsault, all from Columbia Valley vineyards grown specifically for rosé.
Is it a dry rosé? Yes — dry, high-acid and food-friendly, in the Provençal style Charles Bieler's family has made since 1992, from Washington fruit.
How was the 2018 reviewed? Wine Enthusiast gave it 90 points and a Best Buy designation; Vinous scored it 92.
A Syrah-led Columbia Valley rosé with Provençal manners — order Charles & Charles Rose 2018 from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.