Palate
Dazzling and deep, the 2011 cranberry hued Flirtation rose delivers the complexity of fruit flavors typically found in sangria. Red cherry, cranberry, and blood orange create the characteristic mix of a fruit cocktail finishing with the light overtones of vanilla spice.
Growing Conditions
What began with a wet winter and spring continued with rainfall into mid-June that delayed bloom and disrupted fruit set resulting in shatter in parts of the region set the stage for a long, cooler-than-average growing season with a later-than-average harvest beset with autumn rain storms.
After a consistently cool summer season, significant mid-October rain pushed the vintage even later. But growers were rewarded with weeks of fantastic weather, a prolonged Indian summer that provided needed ripening time.
Most agreed that Merlot was a success story for 2011. While it can tended to be on the greener side, the cool weather helped the vines work more efficiently and produced a beautiful vintage of this varietal with black cherry and plum, not any pruney character.
