The 2023 growing season was the fourth cool season in a row. These 2020-2023 La Nina seasons will be remembered for their challenges, but also the lovely elegant wines they have produced. Cool is one thing, but wet and humid is another, Extreme October-December rains and high humidity kept the vineyard team on it’s toes. Keeping the vineyard disease free and balanced during this period was the key to this wonderful vintage. From Jan-April we saw welcome dry periods with all fruit picked between March 10th and April 4th. vibrant flavorsome balanced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir the highlights with our Rose a trademark pale fruit driven, chalky and fine boned beauty.

Brilliant appearance, pale copper blush and a vibrant pink hue. Cooler vintage wild strawberries, grapefruit and blossom of jasmine nose, with notes of bay leaf in the background. The palate is fine and textured, again cassis and hints of passionfruit. The long chalky delicate line of the wine is trademark of this single vineyard Rose.

This is a deliberate and considered Rosé, which starts from dedicated parts of the vineyard to ensure ripe flavours, fresh fruit and a trademark chalky fine finish. After hand-picking into 450kg bins, the fruit is placed overnight in a coolroom for the stalks to dry up, and the enzymatic reactions to slow down allowing a more gentle and pure extraction of juice at dawn the following day. Whole-bunch pressed grapes and yields less than 600 litres per tonne ensure delicate, pale and highly flavoured juice. Final blend was 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Shiraz. Fermented in stainless steel (95%) at moderate temperatures, with remaining 5% fermenting in used French hogsheads to enhance mouthfeel. Fruit driven, slippery, balanced and made with minimal intervention.

Best shared with great company platters of seasonal produce and big smiles.