• Dry style
• Crushed raspberry
• Subtle strawberry
• Floral notes

"The classy 2019 vintage was grown in the lower Waihopai Valley. A blend of Pinot Noir (85 per cent) and Pinot Gris (15 per cent), it is a bright, light pink, very fragrant and fleshy wine, with strong peach, strawberry and spice flavours, and a smooth, fully dry finish. Delicious young" Michael Cooper

Where the Waihopai Valley meets the Wairau Valley, some of their oldest vines are grown by Jeff and Vanessa Hammond at Comelybank Vineyard on gently undulating, well-drained soil of stony alluvium from the undissected older terraces. The Astrolabe Comelybank Vineyard Pinot Rosé is made from Pinot Noir grapes grown at Comelybank Vineyard as well as a small portion of their Pinot Gris. They did a fast ferment for the rosé, with a high level of grape solids and a warm temperature, to create a complex aroma and reduce the dominance of the varietal fruit. It is savoury, textural and very dry. What sets this rosé apart is the use of mainly Pinot Noir fruit. It is a complex wine that is more European in styling. I choose to craft a wine with more body and weight than your usual rose while also keeping it very dry. This wine is defined by its fruit concentration and complexity.

The 2018-2019 growing season was warm and dry, with a shorter period between budburst and harvest than typical. Drought conditions prevailed pre-harvest, and some timely rain towards the end helped vine health and grape flavour development. Berry size was smaller and bunch weight less than the previous two seasons, and crop loads were well balanced to soils and vine vigour.

The Pinot Noir was machine harvested and allowed a short period of skin contact before the free-run juice was drawn off, settled briefly and fermented with light solids at cool temperature. The pinot gris was hand-picked and whole cluster pressed, and clear juice was combined with the pinot noir ferment. Bottled 27th June, 2019.