2020 Star Treatment Rosé Russian River Valley Sonoma County 750 ml

This is a truly inspired rosé. It's what you get when a 100-point winemaker harnesses a Pinot Noir utopia and decides to blaze a trail.

Star Treatment is Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker Maayan Koschitzky’s latest “secret project”—a spare-no-expense Provence-inspired rosé from Russian River Valley Pinot. It’s a wine born of immense talent, top-tier sources, and Maayan’s own rosé passion, and he’s set aside a special allocation for Wine Access members.

When we got our first taste of this expressive 2020 Star Treatment Rosé, it was clear that Maayan had rolled out the lushest red carpet he could find. It’s one of the freshest, most well-balanced rosés we’ve had, and it started with Pinot Noir from NDA-veiled vineyards primarily in the fog-blanketed Green Valley. One of Sonoma County's smallest and most acclaimed Pinot AVAs, Green Valley produces grapes that routinely go into $60+ Pinot Noirs from icons like DuMol, Patz & Hall, and Far Niente’s En Route.

But Maayan wanted to do something different. “I love rosé,” he told us while refilling our glasses. “It needs to get the full treatment of high-end wines.” And that’s exactly what he gave it: Using the best clusters from top cool-climate sites, Maayan let the wine age several months on the lees to develop the silky complexity captured in our favorite bottles from Provence, plus a freshness that reflects its foggy California origins.

“It’s fun to bring a different expression to a famous AVA,” he said. “A rosé that’s complex and balanced, but also just a lot of fun to drink.” A winemaker of boundless talent, having fun and following his passions—look out. This is creative genius territory. And his rosé is nothing short of spectacular.

Maayan is well-known for crafting 100-point Cabernets and incredible wines for Lail, Seavey, and his own La Pelle and Royal Prince labels. The Star Treatment rosé shows that same celebrated expertise and attention to detail. “For me, it’s all about freshness, expressiveness, and balance,” Maayan said, and this wine has the trifecta, boasting bright acidity and intense aromatics alongside satisfying weight from its extended aging. 

A streak of rosé passion has run through Maayan’s career. He’s crafted them at his winery in Israel using unique native varieties, and for his other Napa projects, developing an impressive portfolio of rosé showstoppers. But this is the first time he’s done it equipped with some of California’s best Pinot Noir, and the results are dazzling. 

Green Valley, more than other parts of Russian River, is defined by its ever-present fog. It’s the first place the fog rolls in and the last place it burns off, allowing the Pinot Noir to ripen slowly in the region’s famed Goldridge soils, developing elegant flavors balanced on a vibrant line of acidity. 

2020’s growing season was warmer than usual, so Maayan and his team harvested their Pinot Noir early. “That might seem like it’s against nature,” he said. “But it made this wine more acid-driven and fresher than most California rosés, very aromatically expressive.” It’s a captivating rosé, one that’s just as satisfying alongside a multi-course meal as it is poolside, and one we’ll be reaching for all year.