Scott Soren

9.4

Showing different than the 14 or 15. Much more well rounded. My knock on the first two vintages was the lack of depth on back end. This has changed that. Black fruit in this dense Syrah. Lovely wine — 5 years ago

George Yasutake

9.5

So smooth as usual. My favorite sake! — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.6

It might shock you, but my favorite rosé is not French but instead comes from California! Blasphemy, I know - but Bedrock's Ode to Lulu is just that good. The difficulty is actually finding a bottle. For the last three years, I've only been allocated a case (or less) to sell here in Denver. It's possible you are one of the select few I've actually told about this wine... If not, now is your chance. This is the first year there's an "okay" supply. It won't last, but you should be able to get a bottle.

So yes, it's not French but it's made in the same style and method of Tempier Bandol Rosé- the most sought after, cult rosé out there. The name "Ode to Lulu" is actually an homage to the 4.5 foot tall, 101 year old woman named "Lulu" Peyraud (born Lucie Tempier) whose father gifted the Mourvedre heavy estate to her and her husband Lucien Peyraud. The wines they would go on to produce from the 1940's onward quite literally defined Bandol and put it on the map as some of the best rosés out there. She's still alive and presumably drinking plenty of wine.

This California-born "Ode to Lulu" is modeled after the great Tempier, but has some unique properties compared to it's French namesake. For one, the vines are EXTREMELY old. Tempier defined itself by focusing on old Mourvèdre and Grenache plantings, but even these French vineyards cannot compare to what Bedrock is working with in California. If you don't know, Bedrock is the winery of Morgon Twain Peterson, son of legendary Ravenswood founder Joel Peterson. Morgon grew up making wine and through his father has cultivated relationships with some of the most important heritage vineyards in California. The "Ode to Lulu" is made from Mourvèdre and Grenache planted as far back as 1888! These are some of the oldest plantings of these grapes around and make for unbelievable wines. Tempier's average vine age is around 40 years old today. Bedrock's is over 3x as old. Insane.

Morgon may be young, but he has a life time of winemaking experience. He started making wine with his father when he was 5 years old and hasn't stopped yet. In addition to absorbing his father's knowledge on heritage vineyards, he is a real student in the world of wine, earning a "Masters of Wine" designation (this industry's highest achievement). I've been drinking his wine for several years and I can say that his wine is made extremely thoughtfully and with expert attention to detail. This is true even with a wine as humble as rosé.

Unlike most California pink wine, Bedrock is not produced by "bleeding off" juice from a red wine. Instead, the grapes are picked early and separately at very low potential alcohols, and whole cluster pressed with low extraction. This preserves the freshness and acidity, creating a wine of clarity. In an old blog post I dug up, Morgon explains this idea:

"I pick at potential alcohols lower on the scale where brightness and lift still exist. This is not to say that fruit does not matter—I use Mourvedre from a block planted over 120 years ago for requisite concentration of complexity of flavor—but like fine champagne, the wonders of rosé lie in its unbearable lightness of being."

I agree with this idea of rosé and I think most people instinctively do as well. It's no coincidence that our best selling bottles come from provence. However, I urge you to pick up at least one bottle of this Ode to Lulu. It's a wine that's close in spirit to the best French rosé but made from vineyards that are American and unrivaled in age.

This is the fourth vintage of Ode to Lulu I've tasted, and I would say that's the most elegant yet. The 2015 was maybe my favorite for it's depth and I picked a few up to age, drinking my last bottle recently... This new vintage is great now, but it will reward with a short cellaring time. Honestly, if you can hide 2 bottles and drink them before fall or into next year, you will be blown away. Bandol rosé is a wine that improves dramatically over the course of 6 months to several years (Tempier Rosé is known to go decades). This bedrock is no different.

I can personally attest to past vintages gaining depth with time. How is this possible? Unlike other rosé which should be drank young, Bandol and Ode to Lulu are made of Mourvedre, a grape that is naturally reductive and resistant to oxidation. Further, the acidity is high and alcohol low. As the acidity starts to fall away, a depth and richness of character will emerge. In fruitier/riper rosé with more alcohol, this richness becomes too sweet and cloying... Not the case here. This keep balanced through time, gaining complexity while remaining refreshing. 

You should buy this wine. However, I think there is one more important facet to rosé that I should mention before you do... Rosé is not always about what's in the glass itself. Rosé is really an ethereal thing... It's more so an "essence" of terroir and vintage rather than a sturdy, hard representation like red wine is... Sorry if that doesn't make sense but what I'm trying to say is that sometimes rosé is more about the place and the people you enjoy it with than the exact flavors themselves. Of course, we cannot all visit the picturesque village of Bandol to visit Lulu Peyraud; but I think, with this sunny Colorado weather, we can come close. Perhaps Morgon said it better than I can:

"Proper rosé is refreshing, life-nourishing stuff that revives the soul... I drink as much for pure pleasure as for intellectual stimulation. In the warmer months there is something sacred about a late afternoon meal of cold chicken, fresh garden tomatoes, and rosé. It is one body in the sacred trilogy of rustic simplicity." - Morgon Twain Peterson

#rose #oldvine #lulu #tempier #bedrockwineco — 6 years ago

TheSkip

8.9

I had very high expectations for this wine. I had heard a lot of very good things about Bedrock. This was my first one.

It came out of the bottle hot. Despite a couple of hours, it remained mostly hot. Strawberry and cassis on the nose. Definite American oak. A slightly bitter and metallic finish.

I was surprised to read the back label that claimed this was cool climate. It doesn't feel like that at all.... — 8 years ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

This has been here awhile, reasonable and bold... it’s a Washington gig so it fits my Ora Dora — 5 years ago

Robert S.

9.2

Deep purple in color, dark fruits on the nose with a hint of cocoa. Smooth mouthfeel with well integrated tannins. One of my favorite petite sirah's — 5 years ago

Mark Morgan

8.9

Has gone to sleep a little since last year. I’ll give my other bottle a couple years hibernation. — 6 years ago

Martin Richardson

9.0

Amazing that an island with such a high crime rate (based on my watching Hawaii 5-0) and violent police force (again based on what I’ve seen in Hawaii 5-0) can produce such a good beer. — 6 years ago

Lindsay Boozer

9.0

Delightfully crisp and sweet. It went well with my Chinese food. — 7 years ago

Paul J

8.9

Thanks to Steve G for this guy! Powerful nose, leads to strong flavors of honey, butterscotch, and cantaloupe. Love how it coats the palate and lingers forever! Smells stronger than the 13.8 OH level, and really reminds me of the polish liqueur, Krupnik! Enjoyable, but not what I was expecting and not really in my wheelhouse. — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Brian Mosqueda

9.0

I don't like Chardonnay, but my mother loves this. — 8 years ago

Britt Sondreal McLaughlin

9.0

Almost my ideal rosé - not too dry, not too sweet, well-balanced but still strongly suggestive of summer fruits. Accidentally discovered that it is *perfect* for "frozé" - makes a delicious adult slushy on hot summer nights! 😉 — 8 years ago

Jordan Franceschini

9.0

More viscous than normal for this site. Usually my favorite bottling of an extensive range. — 5 years ago

Naomi P.R.

9.1

Left this one alone for several years before I got my wine palate established. This is fresh and red berries upon opening, minimal squeak factor. Day two, the spices really open up. Will certainly repurchase. — 5 years ago

Austin Baird

9.8

My favorite Sake. Medium Dry, compelling, and exquisite. — 6 years ago

Aaron Means

9.0

In a weird place in my opinion. I see amazing potential. (Very well could be my mood). Violets, cotton candy, meatiness and dark red fruits on the nose. Suave, velvety texture of plush red fruits, flowers, and bacon fat on the palate. Maybe it's a little to suave for my liking tonight, i was wanting a little tension. I have several of these so I'm gonna revisit in 3-5 yrs. — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

8.9

Drinks on our roof began with this Sauv Blanc. Bedrock are one of my favorite producers and this simple yet elegant, classically styled white went down very nicely. — 7 years ago

Doctor No

9.3

Gorgeous, lifted floral blue fruited wonder. Maybe my favorite Bedrock and that's saying a lot — 7 years ago

Benjamin Hall Jr

9.0

40% Mazuelo grape attracted my attention as I knew little of this varietal. A beautiful enrichment if the garancha / Syrah backbone exposes the rich flavors of the region. Another fantastic selection of Jorge Ordonez! — 8 years ago

Mike Merriman

8.9

The best of this brand that I've ever had. The fruit comes from my vineyard and a few others in the Willamette. One noticeable difference in this vintage: The acid. #2013 is one for the ages!
— 8 years ago