Yarra Valley Estate Grown Pinot Noir Rosé 2008

Region
De Bortoli Estate Grown, Yarra Valley, VIC

Appearance
Very pale pink with hints of onion skin

Bouquet
Vibrant, stone fruits, light touches of redcurrant and fresh leaves

Palate
Lively and harmonious with crisp tingling acidity. Textured, integrated and deliciously dry

Vintage Conditions
Pinot Noir is grown specifically for this wine on our Dixons Creek vineyard.

Winemaking
Fruit is gently pressed, settled overnight and racked to 5 and 6 year old casks. We include the pressings fraction for flavour as well as to lower the acidity in the juice. The juice is allowed to ferment with indigenous yeast. Fermentation and lees aging in older barrels further adds texture and depth of flavour to the wine. Once fermentation is complete, the wines are topped and stirred fortnightly for three months before gravity racking, settling and bottling. This is the third release of our Mediterranean style Rosé. These styles are gaining some momentum in a rather sceptical Australian market for dry pale rose. Perhaps if Bandol domaines like Tempier or Ott were a tad more available, we may convince more consumers of this beautiful aperitif style.

Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol : 13.0 % pH : 3.78 TA : 5.0 g/L

Cellaring
This wine should be enjoyed young and fresh but can be cellared in good conditions for up to 2 years.

Suggested Cuisine
Enjoy with Cured Salmon

General Characteristics
Dry Light Bodied

"...But I have to recommend this pale, salmon-pink rosé. With summer coming in, I shy away from heavier reds. In the remnants of cool mornings and evenings, this is the pink to drink: pepper, plum and candy on the palate."

Moya Costello, Northern Rivers Echo, September 2009

93 points
"Deliberately walks to the beat of a different drum; bone-dry, with a framework of chalky/spicy flavours on the long palate; despite its lightness, is a food style."

, James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2010, September 2009

91 points
"Light salmon skin color. Ripe strawberry and nectarine aromas are complicated by dusty minerals and flowers. Juicy, lightly sweet citrus and red berry flavors stain the palate, and are given a firm edge by bitter quinine. Gains weight and richness on the finish, which leaves smoky red berries and tangerine behind. This will be very flexible at the table."

Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Issue 140, October 2008

89 points
“The 2008 Pinot Noir Rose is salmon pink-colored with a fragrant bouquet of rose petals, strawberry, and rhubarb. On the palate it is bone dry while exhibiting an elegant personality. Vibrant and well-balanced, it should be versatile with a wide range of foods.