Astrolabe Marlborough Rosé 2021

Astrolabe Marlborough Rosé 2021Dry style Red cherry & peach Crme brle Mouthwatering "I am a sucker for a pretty label, and Astrolabe have some of the prettiest. This wine is a little ray of sunshine through rose tinted glasses. Aromas and flavours of strawberries and cream, raspberries and watermelon, and freshly picked flowers. A bold palate bursting with sweet citrus and apple, bright acidity and a long, clean finish" Angie Atkinson, The Wine Writer, Oct 2021 "A blend of pinot

• Dry style
• Red cherry & peach
• Crème brûlée
• Mouthwatering

"I am a sucker for a pretty label, and Astrolabe have some of the prettiest. This wine is a little ray of sunshine through rose tinted glasses. Aromas and flavours of strawberries and cream, raspberries and watermelon, and freshly picked flowers. A bold palate bursting with sweet citrus and apple, bright acidity and a long, clean finish" Angie Atkinson, The Wine Writer, Oct 2021

"A blend of pinot noir 55% and pinot gris 45% from the Awatere Valley and Kekerengu Coast areas of Marlborough. A creamy-textured wine with pear and cherry flavours. Dry with good palate weight and refreshing and lengthy finish. Drink 2021 to 2024" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Sep 2021 

"An enticingly fresh and ripe bouquet of strawberry and red cherry, red apple and roses. Fragrant, youthful and lifted with a cold peach tea scent. On the palate - fruity, refreshingly crisp and just dry. Flavours of peach and rose tea, tropical fruits and light red berries. Balanced, well made and ready. Well suited to by the glass drinking or with first courses off an ala carte menu, even cheese. Best drinking upon purchase and through 2023" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jul 2021

"A rosé, born from the Awatere Valley (and Kekerengu) with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris coming together with just the slightest skin contact, to create this blushing watermelon-pink wine. Immense youthful appeal on the nose – showing florals of peony and lemon blossom, with fresh stonefruit. Bone dry, but packed with ripe fruit fl avours of red apple, peach, pear and apricot. Acidity is balanced and there’s a light peppery spice lurking in the background to round out the mouthwatering palate. Texture is smooth and crème brulee-flecked, a nice counterpoint to the bright opening. The finish is dry, but complete, and very lengthy" David Walker Bell, Wine Folio, Feb 2022

"Already delicious, the 2021 vintage (4.5*) is a blend of Pinot Noir (55 per cent) and Pinot Gris (45 per cent), grown in the Awatere Valley (87 per cent) and at Kekerengu (13 per cent). Pale pink, it is mouthfilling, with vibrant strawberry, peach and spice flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth, and a smooth, fully dry finish" Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide 2022

Pale peach blush. Apricot, peach and watermelon, with notes of poached pear and orange blossom. A fresh, dry rosé with bright red apple, pink peppercorn and nougat flavours. Very enjoyable when young and fresh; will age gracefully with careful cellaring.

The 2020–2021 growing season was warmer than normal, though cooler than two of the recent very warm years of vintages 2018 and 2019. Little rain fell from December to late March, and water deficit conditions prevailed. Cold and wet Spring flowering conditions resulted in fewer berries per bunch and significantly reduced yields — about 70% of normal. Above average sunshine and heat, coupled with the light crop, gave a record early harvest. The vine canopies survived the arid weather, largely due to the light fruit load, and fungal disease was largely non-existent. Wines from the vintage tend to have good concentration.

The pinot noir was machine harvested on a cool morning in the Awatere valley and pressed immediately on arrival to the winery. The colour comes from the short period of maceration between the vineyard and winery. The pinot gris was machine harvested, and clear free run juice was combined with the pinot noir ferment.

Food Pairing: Salt baked fish, buttermilk fried cauliflower or prosciutto and melon.