Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Rosé 2023

A mild, wet 2022 winter meant soils held a lot of water going into the spring and inter-row companion crops including clover, phacelia and barley got off to a strong start. Early spring was very cold and then as spring warmed up in November shoot growth was strong. Flowering started the first week in December and fruit set was considered good on most blocks. Mid-summer heat was high and growing degree days were above those in 2022 and on par with 2019 by the end of the season.

Picking dates were moving forward until the second half of March when the heat ran out and the final ripening was slow and cool. Harvest started on the 27th of March at Redbank Vineyard and finished on the 21st of April at The First Paddock, Gibbston. Cropping levels were just short of the optimum 2022 crop.

FROM THE WINEMAKER: Destemmed and steeped on skins for 3-4 days for aromatics and colour extraction before being lightly pressed in to a stainless steel vessel for 55% of the ferment - and older French barriques for the remaining 45%.

An indigenous yeast fermentation took approximately 6-8 weeks at 16-22 degrees Celsius. The wine then rested on fine lees for 3 months before being combined together. There was no malolactic fermentation undertaken. Finally, the wine was filtered just prior to bottling for clarity, brightness and balance. The sub-regional vineyard composition is 57% Bannockburn and 43% Alexandra.