Pikes Luccio Sangiovese Rosé 2025 | Clare Valley

Winemaking Notes

Sangiovese was Pikes' first alternative variety planted on the estate and is extremely well suited to rosé with naturally high acid and bright red fruits. Pressed off skins immediately to keep colour light, fermented in stainless steel. The fruit is estate-grown from Polish Hill River in the Clare Valley. Pikes Wines is a family-founded winery, established in 1984 when the Pike family began crafting wine together in Polish Hill River. The unique site features tough acidic soils over ancient Kadlunga Slate, 650 million years old. Pikes' wines are elegant and approachable, shaped by the land, years of viticultural experience, and a hands-off winemaking style. The 2025 Luccio Rosé shows brilliant clarity with a rosewater blush, displaying new-season cherries, refreshing watermelon and tart cranberry characters with an inviting musk lolly note. The palate features fleshy watermelon and vibrant red fruits leading into notes of pomegranate juice and dried cranberries, with a refreshing green apple acidity driving the palate and offering impressive length before finishing with a subtle hint of dried thyme-like herbs. Deliciously generous and moreish, this fresh, bright, dry and versatile rosé is perfect for sunny days, a satisfying drink on its own that also pairs effortlessly with a wide range of dishes.

Vintage Conditions

The Clare Valley endured one of its most challenging vintages, with the second driest year on record. A wet July was followed by a dry, warm spring and summer. On 17 September, frost hit the Polish Hill vineyard just after budburst. Fortunately, the early timing of the frost allowed the vines to respond with healthy shoot growth and a smaller canopy. Lower yields and careful irrigation led to full ripeness. Fruit showed excellent concentration, with red varieties displaying deep colour and intensity. Despite the challenging conditions, the 2025 vintage produced exceptional fruit quality from the estate-grown Sangiovese. The unique site features tough acidic soils over ancient Kadlunga Slate, 650 million years old, which contributed to the wine's distinctive character. The combination of lower yields from the challenging vintage and the naturally high acid of Sangiovese resulted in a rosé with brilliant clarity showing a rosewater blush, new-season cherries, refreshing watermelon and tart cranberry characters. The palate displays fleshy watermelon and vibrant red fruits with notes of pomegranate juice and dried cranberries, driven by refreshing green apple acidity offering impressive length and finishing with a subtle hint of dried thyme-like herbs. The 2025 vintage perfectly captures the fresh, bright, dry and versatile character that makes this rosé deliciously generous and moreish, shaped by the land, years of viticultural experience, and Pikes' hands-off winemaking style.