2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé

Tasting Notes: Showing its classic salmon color, this mineral-driven, dry Rosé has distinct notes of watermelon rind, wet stone, and honeydew melon. A delicious ocean-breeze salinity is underscored by lingering mouthwatering acidity. We picked this old-vine Carignan fruit specifically for Rosé, and the resulting wine is fresh, elegant, and light on its feet, while also showing the concentration and intensity of this historic site.

Vineyard: Feliz Creek Vineyard - Hopland, Mendocino County AVA
In a protected, tucked-away pocket of Hopland sits Feliz Creek Vineyard, which is owned by Wendy Fetzer. Comprised of organic, head-trained Carignan vines originally planted in 1908, this is a cooler site in a warm area. Because the vineyard is dry farmed, the vines have developed deep root systems, which result in low yields and allow the fruit to achieve intense, concentrated flavor at low Brix. Feliz Creek Vineyard produces a delicious and restrained expression of Carignan, which we find perfect for Rosé.

Winemaking: Direct to press. Whole-cluster pressed. Fermented with native yeast in stainless steel at cool temperatures to preserve the freshness and aromatics.

Vintage: 2022 was a mild, even growing season, and through late summer, it was a picture-perfect vintage. The dry-farmed nature of our vineyards and corresponding low yields allowed us to pick before the late-season heat and early rains, resulting in a stellar vintage for our wines.

Technical Details:
Composition: 100% Carignan
pH: 3.26
TA: 7.6 g/L
Brix at harvest: 21.5
Alcohol: 13.1%
153 cases produced

Bloomberg
"The Year's 50 Best Wines Under $50, From an Expert Who Tasted 3,243"
"The mouthwatering, almost salty acidity in this Mendocino rosé makes it a super food wine. From a single vineyard of old carignan vines, it has aromas of apricots and intense concentrated flavor."

Forbes
"Crafted from 100% old vine carignan cultivated in the cooler climate of Mendocino. Mouthwatering notes of watermelon, white peach and citrus zest keep this one juicy and crisp in the glass."

92 Points - Decanter
"A fuller-bodied rosé that balances a ripeness with fresh minerality and sweet fruit. This rosé is showy and perhaps fancies itself a Bandol. From vines planted in 1908, this pink shows aromas of watermelon jolly rancher, sweet cherry blossom florals and a note of sea breeze. The palate is complex and leans towards the opulent for a rosé. Bold flavours of sweet cherry cut watermelon and strawberry cream."

91 Points - Wine & Spirits Magazine
"Wendy Fetzer organically farms these bush vines in Hopland, then Kyle Jeffrey and Brad Jonas direct-press the fruit and let it ferment spontaneously in stainless steel tanks. The wine is mineral-forward, with a soft touch of salinity before pale-red cherry flavors come up from underneath and last. Tastings Editor Corey Warren, who covered a lot of rosé for this issue, liked how vinous this one tastes: 'It feels like wine, and it feels like carignane.'"

Karen MacNeil's WineSpeed
"Lots of southern French rosés are made from Carignan, and this one from Mendocino, California, is terrific. Light, zesty, and super refreshing, it’s spicy, minerally, peppery and full of wild cherry notes."

Haute Living San Francisco
"Named after the very low tides that expose hidden gems of the sea, Minus Tide was founded by a trio of 2007 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo grads who focus on elegant, balanced wines that showcase the distinct, coastal, and rustic vineyards of Mendocino, California. This mineral-driven, dry Rosé, made from old-vine Carignan fruit, features a delicious, mouthwatering acidity and ocean-breeze salinity, making it a natural pairing to shellfish and other seafoods. The founders, who firmly believe that Rosé is meant for year-round enjoyment, also love it with pizza, barbecue, and even Thanksgiving dinner."

The Press Democrat
"Wine of the Week"
"Our wine of the week, 2022 Minus Tide Feliz Creek Vineyard Carignan Rosé, Mendocino County, is a delicate beauty, as refreshing as river rocks splashed with cool water. This wet-stone quality suggests watermelon rind right before it merges into red fruit. As you bring a glass to your mouth, there’s a sense of being near the sea, with a briny breeze enveloping you in a halo of mist. These beautiful mineral notes are interspersed with flavors of white peach, green honeydew melon and watermelon. It is delightful and delightfully drinkable. Even the wine’s label, with its abalone shell on a wooden plank, is engaging."

Vinography
"There’s another rosé in the lineup this week I can recommend, from the small producer Minus Tide Wines. It’s a rosé of Carignan from Mendocino County, and just what you might want on a hot day. Light baby pink in the glass, this wine smells of cherries and candied plums. In the mouth, silky flavors of cherry and plum mix with citrus peel and a touch of white flowers. Very good acidity. Crisp and clean."