The 2010 Huia Rosé is made from fully ripe Merlot and Malbec grapes sourced from the Brancott valley, one of the Southern Valleys running off the Wairau Valley, and a handful of Pinot Noir from the West Coast road region. The grape ratio is 90% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 2% Pinot Noir.
Winemaking:
Our goal with this wine was to have little skin contact with the fully ripe grapes to give a delicate salmon colour to the Rosé. However two puncheons of Pinot Noir were blended in to enrich the colour and firm up the wines structure. Wild yeasts were used for fermentation along with a short time in older neutral French oak. We aimed for a savoury and fruity palate structure with some complexity from the lees characters.
Tasting Note:
Aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and plum are on the nose. Strawberry, mullberry and blackberry flavours combine with spice on the palate. This wine shows real savoury depth, length and weight balanced with fine acidity. This Rosé can be served lightly chilled. It is excellent as an aperitif.