Pale copper color; strawberry, cherry, blackberry on light nose; strawberry, red grapefruit, watermelon, white peach on the palate.
Dry; moderate acidity; lean, airy body. Simple, clean tastes. Could almost pass as a light white wine. Blend of 32% grenache, 29% mourvèdre, 20% carignane, syrah 19% for 2021. That is the basic formula Klinker Brick rosé formula; varies slightly in percentages vintage-to-vintage. 11.6% ABV
The Klinker Brick team includes owners Steve and Lori Felten who are fifth-generation wine growers in the Lodi region. In addition to Klinker Brick, they also manage a number of other vineyards in Lodi. Their daughter, Farrah Felton-Jolley, is vice president of marketing and sales. Farrah’s husband, Stefan Jolley is vice president–operations.
Famed Lodi winemaker Barry Gnekow is the Klinker Brick winemaking consultant. He has participated in Klinker Brick since its first vintage in 2000. Joseph Smith is the winemaker. He joined the team in 2008 after working as an apprentice for Gnekow Family Wines, also at Hahn and Michael David. Christopher Rivera is the assistant winemaker, he worked as a physical therapist then became fascinated with winemaking.
While this is a GSM Rhône varietal rosé made in Provence style, the Feltens and Klinker Brick are best known for old vine zinfandels. The family owns and manages 15 individual blocks of zinfandel ranging in age from 40 to 120 years old. In the 1990s, they sold juice to benchmark producers in Napa and Sonoma. They began making their own wine in 2000 and quickly became a go-to Lodi zin producer.
What about the weird name? The Klinker Brick website explains: “We are often asked why we named our winery, Klinker Brick. Klinker Bricks are highly prized bricks that grace many of the historical buildings in Lodi, including our home. Chosen by Craftsmen architects in the 1920’s for their distinctive qualities, including unique shapes and dark, rich color, they are denser and heavier in weight than regular bricks. “Klinker” refers to the unusual sound that they make when banged together, because of their density. Rich, deep color, enormous density, unique and distinctive features are the same qualities found in our Old Vine Zinfandel and Farrah Syrah. And, we hope it is a name that you are not likely to forget!”
Klinker Brick Bricks & Roses Rosé, Lodi 2021 is Provence-style rosé, but even lighter and airier. Fresh, simple, straightforward. Fruit finally presents late in the mid-palate and finish, but this displays delicacy and ethereality rather than fruit-forward assertiveness. Pair with roast chicken; shellfish; appetizers and snacks; garden salad with strawberry and other fruit; fruit salad and fruity desserts; works as an aperitif, with cheese and fruit-focused charcuterie board or sipped chilled and solo on patio, porch, poolside, deck in summer. Cheese—feta, mozzarella, cheddar, baby swiss, soft goat cheeses are classic matches. $15-19
Video about Klinker Brick Winery
