Mt Beautiful North Canterbury Rosé 2019

Description

• Bone-dry style
• Wild strawberry
• Comice pear
• Clean fruit flavours

Traditionally made Rosé produced from Pinot Noir (65%) and Pinot Gris (35%) juice pressed off after a period of light skin contact and co-fermented in tank. The 2019 vintage has a classic light pink hue with fragrant wild strawberry, comice pear and savory aromas. On the palate the wine is dry with a clean fruitiness soft and textured and crisp refreshing finish.

2019 was a year of low yields in both Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Pinot Noir was harvested and given 12 hours’ skin contact in the press before pressing and clarifying. It was then blended with Pinot Gris which was also given time on its skins in the press. The Pinot Gris adds a fruitiness and a touch of Comice pear-like character to the wine. Both juices were blende d together and co-fermented in tank. The wine was aged on lees which brings more texture and a creamy mouthfeel to the wine. Fermentation lasted 14 -21 days at a closely monitored average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. Winemakers aimed for a relatively long ferment to allow for clean, complex flavors to be exhibited.

The Pinot Noir is planted on the Southern section of the vineyard . This has the highest elevation and provides extra warmth and less frost risk. In addition to this the Pinot Noir is closely planted to reduce vigor resulting in lower crop levels of around 45hl/ha, allowing us to get physiologically ripe fruit and give a true expression of this variety. The Pinot Noir is all hand tended throughout the season and at harvest. Our mix of Pinot Noir clones were specifically chosen for their flavor profile with 50% of the vineyard planted in Burgundy clones. The parcel selected for Rosé production largely consists of Clone 5 and the Swiss clone Mariafeld. Both have slightly bigger berries and thinner skins. The Pinot Gris is located on a similar hillside face as the Pinot Noir. It consists of Pinot Gris clones Berrysmith, Orvaille and GN 2-21. It is important that the two Pinots are fermented together as they have complimentary roles and some of the phenolics found in Pinot Gris skins help fix color and aromatics in the Pinot Noir.

Food Pairing: The Mt. Beautiful Rosé pairs beautifully with fresh run salmon bake, Thai beef salad and an afternoon by the pool.