2023 Josie Rosé
Marsh Creek Vineyard, Contra Costa County
100% Mourvèdre | 11.3 % alcohol by volume | 240 cases produced
Released: May 31st, 2024 | Retail: $23/bottle

Inspiration: Josie is the name of my daughter and first-born child.  She is demure and lovely - a gentle rose flower - just like this gorgeous rosé wine that bears her name.  Her whole life, Josie has always been in love with all things PINK and when I started making wine, of course she wanted me to make a pink one.  Around our homestead we’ve always enjoyed drinking rosé wines, especially those from the Bandol region of Provence where the Mourvèdre grape is famous!  It’s my love of Josie, her love of pink, and my passion for Bandol style rosé wine that I craft Josie a 100% varietal rosé of Mourvèdre!

Vintage: California vintners celebrated the 2023 vintage as exceptional, following a later start to harvest.  Plentiful winter rains revitalized the soils and encouraged healthy canopies while cooler temperatures across the state in spring and summer allowed grapes to develop gradually, enjoying extra ripening time.  Many predict that the 2023 vintage will be one of the finest in years, producing wines with beautiful flavors, vibrant acidity and remarkable balance.  Harvest began late throughout California, running anywhere from two weeks to a full month behind normal timing.  Our Mourvèdre harvest on August 29th , 2023 was similar to our 2022 date.  Yield from our 2-acre block was 4.89 tons in 2023, and the fruit quality was superior, and we feel it’s our finest to date!

Vineyard:  Marsh Creek Vineyard, in Brentwood California, on the rolling hills at the base of Mount Diablo approximately 25 miles east of the San Francisco Bay and 6 miles to the south of the San Joaquin River Delta.  These 2 significant bodies of water create a vast diurnal temperature swing providing warm sunny days and cool, breezy nights ideal for grape growing.  The vineyard lies within the Contra Costa County AVA.  Marsh Creek flows along the base of the vineyards, providing a water source for this warm area.  Homes in the Trilogy at the Vineyards community are nestled amongst 37 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards comprised of 6 different grape varieties - including our 2-acre block of clone 1 Mourvèdre which was planted in 2006 on rootstock 140R.  The UC Davis school of viticulture hand-picked the root stocks and clones for Marsh Creek ensuring a perfect balance for this terroir.  Sustainable farming practices are strictly followed.  Hundreds of residents at Trilogy are our watchful eyes on the vines, and their health and well-being is a priority for farming considerations in the vineyard.  

Winemaking: The Marsh Creek grapes were harvested by hand on August 29th, beginning pre-dawn at 5:45am, at 18.8 Brix, and immediately trucked to the urban winery in San Francisco.  Upon arrival the grapes were then meticulously hand sorted, and half of the fruit delivered direct to press.  Hard press fractions up to 1.6 bar were collected and fermented separately, and proved to be a valuable blending component.  The other half were lady foot stomped by Josie herself to add color before going to press.  After cold crashing to a freezing temperature to settle solids, the juice was racked to a temperature controlled stainless-steel tank for fermentation.  After four weeks, spontaneous fermentation occurred.  We maintained peak fermentation temperatures below 74F to retain aromatics and allowed fermentation to finish completely dry in tank, where it was then aged sur lie for 8 months. In April 2024 the wine was racked off the lees to cold stabilize.  Finally, it was sterile filtered to prevent malolactic fermentation and bottled on April 22nd, 2024.  The wine rested in bottle for 5 weeks and was released on May 31st, Josie’s high school graduation day!

Tasting Notes: strawberry, almond and peach blossom nose.  A savory salinity leads to strawberry-guava fruit punch on the pallet with a Juicy Fruit gum finish.  Seductive, fresh and chuggable.

Food + situational pairing: Sushi, lobster rolls, eggs benedict, quiche, grilled or smoked salmon, caviar, gruyere cheese, pommes frites, tortilla Española and patatas bravas.  Perfect for brunch, picnics, as an aperitif, a daytime poolside sipper or porch pounder. 

“Rosé All Day!”

-Ben Doren
Doren Wines
winemaker/proprietor