Rose

Description

NGERINGA Rosé 2012 Rose 2012 The NGERINGA Rosé is made with Syrah from our three vineyards: Summit, Rufus and Illuma. The Summit vineyard is planted on an easterly facing slope at 380m above sea level on a soil of sandy loam over clay and with Lake Alexandrina as its backdrop. The Rufus vineyard, by contrast, is westerly facing on the opposing side of the hill with a rocky, red ironstone soil over clay. The Iluma vineyard, also on a westerly facing slope, is of a sparkling micaceous schist over clay. All our Syrah vineyards are planted at a density of 6700 vines/ha. TASTING NOTES This attractive wine is beautifully floral on the nose, displaying citrus blossoms and rose petals as well as candied cherry aromas. On the palate, there is a playful vibrancy, velvety tannins and the red-fruit flavour of pie cherries. With excellent length, the wine lingers with complex, slightly salted notes of mineral and resin. WINEMAKING NOTES 90% Syrah of which 60% whole bunch fruit was direct pressed, picked specifically for the Rosé for acidity and freshness. 40% of the Syrah component is saigneé from our best Syrah batches. In 2012 we have for the first time used about 10% Pinot Noir in the Rosé from our sparking base. Fermented in 8-year-old French barriques, left on lees for 12 months with no barrel stirring. Full malolactic. Estate bottled in house. VINTAGE NOTES The 2012 growing season was pre-ordained to be described in contrast to the horrendous year that preceded it. After the historically cold, wet 2011 vintage it seemed inevitable that this year would have to be an improvement, and it did not disappoint. It started with a cold winter and below average rains, but with our dams sufficiently filled, we had little concern. A cool, mostly dry spring returned our three winter-soaked vineyards to drier soils, a useful reminder that the prospect of drought is never distant in our Australian terroir. Budburst began somewhat early so we were glad to have begun our pruning (most unusually) immediately post-vintage. Temperatures warmed in mid November, the start of a long, gentle summer. Amidst the steady warmth, occasional showers kept grapes in good condition as our vineyards sped along to an early harvest. A far cry from the nerve-wracking 2011, vintage 2012 consequently was a year of consistently high quality across all varieties, albethey low in quantity. The whites showed fantastic acidity, the reds good depth and concentration. What lacked in quantity from the vineyard appears certain to be amply compensated for by quality in the winery.