TERRE ROUGE, 2007 Roussanne, Sierra Foothills

TERRE ROUGE is located in the Sierra Nevada area of Northern California. They're a perfect pair for the girl & the fig since they use sustainable farming practices for their vineyards, and use solar panels located on the roof of the winery building for most of their electrical power.

From the website: "'TERRE ROUGE' means "Red Earth". This vermillion-colored soil is one of the hallmarks of our region. Our vineyards are in soils that are largely granite and volcanic-based. The TERRE ROUGE portfolio is composed of wines made from Rhone varietals grown in the rugged and varying terroirs of this region: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne. High elevation sites up to 3200' contribute to the complexity of our wines. Our winemaker, Bill Easton, puts his family name, EASTON, on our non-Rhone varietal wines. The wines are crafted from varietals new to the Sierra Foothills: Grenache Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc."

Tasting Notes:

This Roussanne is straw gold in color with quince, honey-nut, and beeswax aromas and rich, silky mouth feel.

Winemaking Notes:

This grape is planted with a clone of the Roussane grape that originates from a Chave family parcel on the hill at Hermitage. It is a difficult variety to grow, as it ripens unevenly, so it must be harvested selectively (not all at the same time). Unfortunately it is also susceptible to powdery mildew. The fruit in 2007 was fully rip at harvest in mid-September, resulting in class Roussanne characteristics.