2020 Azur Rose Napa Valley 750 ml

An exquisitely crafted rosé can show the character and complexity of the great white wines of the world, and the first time you taste one, it can be a game-changer. The 2020 Azur Rosé is that kind of eye-opening rosé: a pale, salmon-colored California beauty that rivals the best of Provence.

Azur Founder Elan Fayard calls upon her love of France’s Mediterranean coast to produce the must-have rosé of Napa. It regularly makes itself at home at top restaurants like The French Laundry, Meadowood, Auberge du Soleil, Morimoto, Bouchon, Rutherford Grill, and Mustards—as well as in the glasses of our members, who’ve made the wine a rapid sell-out three years running.

Walk into any Napa gathering this season, and one thing is for sure: Azur rosé will be there either in celebration-sized three-liters, or a standard 750ml bottle with its minimalist label practically winking from across the room. There’s a reason that it’s become a go-to of the most demanding wine pros in the Valley—it’s a breed apart in terms of quality.

That’s because very few wineries give rosé the kind of attention that Azur does. Elan sources grapes specifically for rosé from the high-altitude, iron-rich Sierra Foothills and Rutherford’s hallowed soils, and makes Azur using the same time-honored direct pressing technique as legendary names like Ott and Tempier; it’s a truly Provençal California wine. 

In the glass, Azur is pure finesse and elegance: bone dry, with a creamy texture and bright acidity. Opening the bottle and pouring a glass of the peachy-salmon colored nectar, it’s striking how delicious the wine smells—like someone put a perfect Napa summer day in a blender with apricots, lemon zest, jasmine, and tart wild strawberries. The palate is a river of electric flavor, headlined by watermelon rind, crystalline minerality, bright peaches, and a touch of crisp fennel. We could drink this all day… and have... and will again.

It’s easy to see why the Azur name has become synonymous with “sold out” among Wine Access members—there’s no buying enough of it. Like a magical, self-emptying glass, bottles and cases seem to disappear of their own accord.