WINERY Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards, 44075 Route 25, Peconic, 631-765-6188, ospreysdominion.com
WINEMAKER Robin Epperson-McCarthy
WINE 2023 Vin Gris
GRAPES 50% cabernet franc, 49% cabernet sauvignon, 1% pinot noir
PRICE $22
FAVE FOOD PAIRING Fluke crudo
Not all rosé is created equal. Some (even famous ones that you pay a pretty penny for) are just kind of… meh. But others are created with a true purpose, taking into consideration both the season and the reason.
“I wanted to make a lighter, leaner style of rosé that is more in line with a white-wine flavor profile, purposely to pair with food,” says winemaker Robin Epperson-McCarthy. “The 2023 vintage at Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards provided an excellent growing season for lighter-style wines.”
But not so fast—it is light and refreshing, yes, but there’s more here, and that’s what makes this salmon pink-hued sipper so pairable (and, if you ask us, unforgettable). Give it a little swirl and smell and you’ll get a lovely bowl of summer fruit—cantaloupe, cherries, tangerine peel. The texture, too, has the loveliest, silken, almost velvety feel on the tongue, but with the right kind of acidity that feels like a squirt of fresh citrus on the finish.
And that acid? It’s a life-giver. If you’re of the mind that rosé must be treated like Beaujolais Villages, think again. “It’s a cool-climate wine so the natural acidity is going to preserve it for a few more years,” says Epperson-McCarthy. “Especially if you are like me and prefer a rosé that has time in bottle before being enjoyed.”
The best way to enjoy? Sure, pop it open and take in all those lovely aromas and flavors, but do like the winemaker and hit up your favorite fishmonger for some local catch.
“This is my go-to wine with light fish dishes. Specifically, something fresh with some citrus,” says Epperson-McCarthy. “Fluke crudo with ruby red grapefruit is luscious with the Vin Gris!”
