Rose 2023

The 2023 vintage in Marlborough turned out to be exceptional, producing grapes and then wine of incredible quality, although it certainly didn’t always look that way. Spring 2022 started with good weather leading to a successful flowering and reasonable bunch numbers. From January onwards the weather was quite mixed, with showers and inconsistent temperatures, however the grapes came through in good order and the last two weeks prior to harvest had perfect conditions for slow, perfect ripening with cool nights and warm days.

This Rose is predominantly estate grown Pinot Noir, which was designated specifically for this wine. The remainder of the blend is a small portion of Gruner Veltliner and Pinot Gris. The grapes were all picked together on 20 March 2023 in the cool of the evening, maintaining freshness and resulting in exceptional quality. They were given a brief cold soak maceration to extract colour from the skins and then co-fermented to give us this elegant, well integrated wine. The inclusion of the two aromatic white grapes co-fermented with the Pinot Noir lifts the wine, giving a unique vibrancy and spicyness. It was bottled on 28 July 2023.

It is mid salmon in colour with a classical strawberries and cream nose, delicate red rose florals, cherries, cranberries, and a subtle spicy hint. On the palate it is clean, crisp and refreshing with appealing traces of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, pomegranite, water-melon and spices, with a hint of red apples and peachy stonefruits.  It is medium bodied,  elegant and refined, with crisp acidity, great balance and soft tannins. The long, lingering, spicy finish is particularly appealing. Because it is predominantly Pinot Noir, it should age gracefully for several years.

Technical notes

Alcohol 13.4%; Acidity 6.8 g/l; PH 3.4; Residual Sugar 4.5 g/l  

Reviews  

This is instantly appealing on the nose with watermelon, apricot, crunchy apple and floral aromas. The palate is equally charming, delivering fine flow and smooth texture, wonderfully framed by juicy acidity, making it delicious and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2026.   

 *****  94/100

                                                                                                               Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, November 2023

The attractive 2023 vintage (4*) was made principally from Pinot Noir, estate-grown in the Wairau Valley. Pale pink, it is fresh and lively, with very good depth of peach, strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, a touch of tannin and a basically dry finish. Good drinking for the summer of 2023-24.   

Michael Cooper. December 2023     

Fascinating nose, dances between strawberries & cream, peach, & citrussy aspects before a savoury quality appears. An initial hint of fruit sweetness before the racy acidity kicks in. Fresh, bright, boiled sweets, strawberry, stonefruit notes coming into play too with a tiny prickle of spritz. Deceptive persistence, long finish and nicely balance. Rather nicely done.

Excellent                                   

Mark Henderson, ODT. February 2024

And here we go again: though the track record for this wine is not as long as some of the others, the first time I tasted it being the 2022 vintage, for me this rosé steps up a gear. It is literally overflowing with strawberry cup, summer aromas, plenty of floral highlights, rose-hip and lychee (though mostly Pinot Noir, I believe small proportions of aromatic white varieties are blended in). In the mouth a little bit of residual sugar gives it even more of a summery, forget all your troubles character, that buoyant fruit nicely sliced through by a zesty acidity. A fabulous little summer pink to serve well chilled.

90/100         

Tom Cannavan. Wine-pages.com March 2024