Rutherglen Estate Rosé 2023

The Grenache is grown at the De Bortoli Shelley’s vineyard on the eastern edge of the Rutherglen region. The site is east facing and produces a dry savoury Rosé wine with brightness and poise. The Shiraz is from the Melvilles Vineyard, on a west facing slope. This block was picked early to capture fresh red berry characters.

2023 was a slightly cooler than average year without any extreme heat. Because of a very wet and stressful Spring, it was a difficult growing season. Fortunately post December the Summer became more normal. February and March dried out with ideal mild days which resulted in a fantastic year in Rutherglen for our white wines and Rosés. The season was three weeks later than average and we feel fortunate to have ended up with the wines we have in the cellar.

After a short period soaking on skins at less than 10°C, the ‘pink’ juice is drained to capture the delicate, pretty, sweet fruit characters before any of the tannins have been extracted. The juice is then fermented using white winemaking techniques, with the two varieties made separately. Aromatic yeast selection and a cool fermentation temperature has produced a fruit driven wine which is representative of a style of Rosé from the Rutherglen region.