Even though I keep harping that rosé wines should be consumed year round, the consensus still seems to be that pink wines are for warmer weather. And with that in mind, I have conducted my Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American True Rosé at the beginning of May for the last nine years.
Even the most math-challenged out there realize that means that this year will be the tenth such annual tasting which I host for other wine professionals in the Houston area. This year it falls on May 10th (so there is still time to submit, if you are so inclined; and let me know if you would like to partake in the tasting!), and several wineries have already sent me a few bottles of their beloved pink concoctions.
At the top of that list are the fine people at the Stoller Wine Group, one of the more prominent producers in the Willamette Valley. They sent me a few bottles of three of their rosés (all Pinot Noirs) and I thought it would be fun to kick off “rosé season” with a spotlight on the following three wines.
2025 Chehalem Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $20. Responsible Bottle (470g; 16.5oz). Under screw cap. I tasted this along side the other Stoller rosés, the 2024 Elouan and the 2025 Stoller. All three Pinot Noirs. And while the Elouan left a bit to be desired, this Chehalem and the Stoller were both stellar, with a slight nod (at least in my mind) to this Chehalem rosé. It is quite fruity in the glass, with wonderful cherry and strawberry practically leaping out of the glass. That intense fruit persists on the palate, along with an appealing minerality, and a floral aspect. It finishes with a hint of salinity rendering this one of the more complete rosés I have tried in a while. Outstanding. 94 Points.
2024 Elouan Rosé, Oregon: Retail $20. Extremely Heavy Bottle (811g; 28.6oz). 100% Pinot Noir. A lot to discuss here. First, Elouan was founded by Joe Wagner, of Meomi fame, and by all accounts, he seemed to have wanted to duplicate his Meomi “magic” in Oregon. For the most part, I have found just about all of his wines rather regrettable, and no where near my taste. Luckily for Mr. Wagner, an apparently large swath of the American public feels otherwise. Then, in a rather surprising development (at least for me), the Stoller Wine Group purchased Elouan in June of last year for an undisclosed amount. It was only a couple of months after Bill Stoller, founder and driving force behind his eponymous winery, passed away. Part of the deal included existing stock which included this 2024 rosé, which the kind folks at Stoller sent along with their other rosés you see here. While I was excited about the Chehalem and Stoller rosés, I figured this Elouan would be sweet and over the top (it was made by the Joe Wagner team, after all). Well. Bubblegum pink in the glass, with nice watermelon, strawberry, and bright citrus on the nose. Nice, even. While there is certainly some residual sugar on the palate, I would stop short of calling it sweet but it is definitely not dry. There is also plenty of acidity, making that sweetness more palatable. Don’t get me wrong, this is a pink for the masses, but it is really not all that bad. And the folks at Stoller (whose production nearly doubled with this acquisition) are going to be reconsidering the profile of all Elouan wines. Hopefully, they will also address the really stupid weight of the bottle. So stay tuned. Very Good. 87 Points.
2025 Stoller Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $22. Responsible Bottle (469g; 16.6oz). Under screw cap. I received a few bottle of rosé from the kind folk at Stoller for my upcoming blind tasting of American True Rosé and I decided to have a little preview. I have been a fan of Stoller for some time and their rosé is always one of the best values in the market. Rather pale in color, but bolder in aromas with loads of cherry, strawberry, and watermelon. The palate is wonderfully tart, even quite tart, and that acidity really drives the palate from the jump. Sure, there is plenty of fruit, too, but that zing is what I am looking for in my rosé, and this one has it in spades. Outstanding. 93 Points.
the drunken cyclist 