Back in June, my DC wine friends decided the theme for our weekly class would be rosé – a perfect wine for a warm end-of-Spring day. I dropped into Bottles N’ Bins in Monterey and asked what they had from local wineries. I found a well-known wine on the shelves right away, but I wanted to explore something different. The clerk wasn’t sure, so he made a call – we found 3 more options in their refrigerator, ready to drink. I lined them all up, looked at their colors and selected the darkest one. I didn’t know about “orange wines” when I selected this wine – turns out that was what I had.
From Cal Wine Jaunt: “Integrity Wines offers flights of wine on Aviation Way (Watsonville, CA). The Integrity tasting room and production site is just steps from the Watsonville airport. Owner, Mark Hoover, recently opened the doors to his “urban winery.” Mark prefers to travel around and choose the grapes that he likes for his wines. He decided to skip the land and vineyards, source the grapes he wants, and focus on producing wines. It always helps to know your own goals and strengths. And Mark knows he would rather make wine than grow wine…
“Mark has been making wine since the ’80s with 2018 marking his third year of production. For some time his friends kept encouraging him and his talent for making wines…To his credit, Mark’s wines are holding their own. His 2016 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay won a Silver Metal in the Monterey National Wine Competition. Sip Integrity wines made with grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands, Sonoma, Napa, and of course, local Bay Area vineyards. Integrity wines are made for people, by people.
“When pouring a bottle, you’ll notice the thumbprint logo was placed directly where one grabs the bottle. I think of the thumbprint as a nod towards the tech industry, one’s unique identity and authenticity. For my tasting friend, the thumbprint brought to mind being honest, real, and one of a kind. The thumbprint evokes images and meaning to each of us. But in the end, what we put our hand to is very significant. Mark Hoover has put his hand to making wines.”
2017 Integrity Rosé, Monterey County, 13.4% ABV, $16 (#82*) 90% Pinot Gris (Monterey County) 10% Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Winemaker’s Notes: 2017 Rosé of Pinots Monterey County. 90% Pinot Grigio (Monterey County) and 10% Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains.) On the nose: strawberry, chalk, and graham cracker. On the palate: soft watermelon. Serve with fresh feta, mint, and watermelon, along with grilled chicken skewers. https://www.calwinejaunt.com/sip-and-tell-blog/integrity-wines-watsonville-wine-flights-plane-flights )
My Review: A bold pink, almost orange in color from the Pinot Gris, which naturally has an orange hue. Powerful floral nose of honeysuckle and lemongrass. Refreshing, bold palate with bright acidity and a lingering finish. This wine did not disappoint.
You can obtain this wine directly from the winery or locally at Bottles N’ Bins Liquors on Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. I have not checked their inventory lately.
*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.
© Decanting Monterey 2020
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