23 Colibri Counoise Rose

100% Counoise - 75 Cases, 6 Bottles

Counoise is said to have been introduced to Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Spain by a papal officer who offered it to Pope Urban the fifth when the papacy was based in Avignon in the mid-14th century. (Imagine a time when grape cuttings were viewed as a special gift like silver or gold!

That’s a world I can get behind!) Counoise never took serious hold, though.  With about 1200 acres in France and only another few hundred in the rest of the world, Counoise is still primarily a minor blending grape.  Page Springs grows it at both the Colibri and House Mountain Vineyards where, like others, we also work it into blends.  Notably, though, we also make it into stunning roses from earlier, less ripe picks. This modestly savory rosé balances fruity characters with light earthy and herbal notes as well as a hint of pink peppercorn and Rainier cherries.