Team C&J
Ecluse Wines is a great boutique winery in Paso Robles known for their award-winning, French-inspired wines, and after visiting the winery last year, we have to say: these wines are exciting. One sip of the 2023 Ecluse Wines rosé, and you will understand why so many wine professionals are following what’s coming out of this Central Coast region.
In fact, the 2023 rosé is a perfect example of why Paso wine is beginning to woo customers away from Napa Valley as they search for well-made wines that are also value-driven. With its refreshing palate and pairing versatility, this wine is the ultimate crowd-pleaser that will pair with afternoons by the pool and, believe it or not, a Thanksgiving feast! Rosé wines are that versatile!
Steve and Pam Lock’s journey to founding Écluse Wines in 1997 reads like a wine lover’s dream come true. It all began in the 1980s with a spontaneous trip to Paso Robles, where they helped a friend plant a vineyard in what was then a fairly new wine region. This hands-on experience ignited their passion for viticulture and eventually led them to purchase 30 stunning acres on the Westside of Paso Robles.
The story gets even better from here. Écluse, which is the French word for a lock on a canal, is a nod to Steve and Pam’s love for those slow, relaxed barge trips through the French countryside – it also happens to be a reference to their last name, which also happens to be Lock. Talk about a great winery name!
Every good winemaker will tell you that great wines start with great fruit, and for the Lock’s, that means sustainability farming their vineyards. The couple’s prized 30-acre Lock Vineyard sits on the Westside of Paso Robles, and shares the same microclimate as one of the region’s most famous vineyards, L’Aventure.
The greatness of this site is in part due to its dramatic diurnal shift, which sees temperatures swing 50 degrees some days, and this swing from hot to cool is excellent for producing high quality fruit. To complement these growing conditions, the Lock’s use cover crops to protect the soil, use no-spray management practices, and encourage natural pest predators to keep the vines healthy.
Wine tasting at Écluse Wines is a memorable experience that invites you right into the heart of their operations. All tastings take place in the intimate setting of their barrel room, where you get the unique opportunity to sample right from the barrels. If you’re newer to wine tasting and winery visits, this is a very special treat and one rarely available to visitors.
At just $15 per person, we found this to be one of the biggest bangs for your buck wine-tasting experiences in Paso Robles, especially when you factor in that the tasting fees are waived with the purchase of a bottle or by joining their wine club. The other thing we loved about this visit is that Écluse Wines doesn’t require reservations and welcomes walk-ins, making it easy to drop in and taste.
If you do go taste, be sure to visit The Terrace after your tasting. The vibrant green hills are gorgeous, and it sets quite the wine country scene.
Take a look at our full experience wine tasting at Ecluse Wines in Paso Robles here.
Écluse Rosé 2023 from Paso Robles, a blend of 63% Counoise, 25% Grenache, and 12% Malbec, is a pale salmon color in the glass with captivating clarity. On the nose, it offers a pronounced and fully developed bouquet of freshly picked strawberries, ripe peaches, zesty lemon, and vibrant lime. Subtle hints of saline and slate almost have a coastal quality that just sing of summer.
The palate is dry with a refreshing medium-plus acidity and a medium-plus body, delivering rich and pronounced flavors. Juicy strawberries and peaches are complemented by the tropical essence of banana, sweet citrus bursts of mandarin, and a touch of honey that adds gentle roundness. Underlying notes of slate and a hint of watermelon provide a refreshing minerality, while the medium-plus finish ensures each sip leaves a lasting impression.
This rosé, with its unique blend of Counoise, Grenache, and Malbec, is a perfectly balanced and elegantly structured wine, ideal for warm weather and light fare. Winemaker Anthony DeLuca and owners Steve and Pam Lock have crafted a terrific wine that we think you will love, no matter the season.
Is rosé wine sweet?
Rosé wines fall into two categories: dry and sweet – with shades of variation between the two styles. While some rosés are dry and mineraly, others have sweet flavors that will remind you of ripe summer berries. The 2023 Écluse Rosé is one the drier side, which is the style we prefer.
What to pair with rosé wine?
While most people think rosé wines only pair with warm weather foods like salads, fish, and light, veggie-forward snacks, these wines offer so much more. Pull out your favorite pink wine and enjoy it with a charcuterie board, or even with Thanksgiving dinner! Turkey is a great rosé pairing.
USA
Paso Robles
White Blend
13.8
Anthony La Duca
47–50°F / 7–10°C
Chardonnay
N/A
Now
Écluse Wines
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