100% Cinsault. She is
definitely the prettiest girl in the room. Cinsault is a lesser known Rhone
varietal that is usually blended with other grapes, but on the Wahluke Slope
this grape ripens to produce this beautiful feminine, medium-bodied wine full
of soft tannins, red fruit and spice with a gorgeous bouquet.
She is elegant,
refreshing and will have you reaching for her, over and over again. Aged
in neutral oak barrels for 15 months.
The 2011 The Coquette is 100%
Cinsault that spent 18 months in neutral French oak barrels. Semi-transparent
in color, with a Pinot Noir-like bouquet of sweet kirsch and cherry fruit,
loads of exotic spice, dried flowers and dried underbrush, it flows onto the
palate with a medium-bodied, supple and sweetly fruited profile that shows
juicy acidity on the finish. It should drink nicely for at least 3-5 years. 90 oints., Jeb Dunnock, Wine Advocate
"
As I finish my examination of some of
the best Rhone varietals vinted as varietal wines, it is nice to discover
another bottling of rare beauty and breeding. Judy Phelps at Hard Row to
Hoe Winery crafted this varietal Cinsault from grapes grown at the venerable
Rosebud Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope. This charming wine shows like a
distinctly feminine version of a red Rhone, with aromas and flavors of red
fruits and floral perfume and refreshing acidity on the finish. It is a
superb accompaniment to any light to medium summer fare." Chuck Hill, Wines
Northwest
"Sourced from the Rosebud
Vineyard, this is a charming wine from a grape usually used for blending in the
South Rhone Valley. The flavor profile is akin to that of a Pinot Nor, but more
aromatic and spicy. It exhibits a meduim garnet color and an exotic nondse of
fraises de bois, mulberries, orange peels, rose petals, and white incense.
The medium bodied flavors spread out on the palate, with nuanced notes of
gently squeezed fruits, herbal tea, grape skins and gravelly Wahluke Slope
minerality. On the back, notes of dried orange peel and fraise liqueur are
accompanied by a fine balance of fruit acids that add verve to the lingering
sweet-savory, lightly spiced (cardamom, coriander) finish. As distinctively
styled wine, this gets a plus "
18.5+/20
points. Rand Sealy,
Review of Washington Wines
