Wither Hills Early Light Rosé
Fresh watermelon pink in colour with an enticing crushed ice blue hue, this inaugural Early Light Rose is refreshing in style with perfumed aromas of wild strawberries and fresh raspberries.
Aromas
Fresh watermelon pink in colour with an enticing crushed ice blue hue, this inaugural Early Light Rose is refreshing in style with perfumed aromas of wild strawberries and fresh raspberries.
Palate
The palate is elegant and bright with a subtle creamy texture, balanced nicely with bright refreshing acidity.
Winemaking
Strategically situated sites were chosen for this 100% Pinot Noir Rose from the Wairau Valley. The fruit was harvested at optimum ripeness to make this fresh, lighter in alcohol style of Rose. The berries were gently pressed, cold settled, racked and cool fermented with selected yeast strains to enhance the unique aromatics and flavors. After fermentation the wines remained on light yeast lees to enhance palate feel and structure. The wines were then racked, blended, filtered, and bottled to retain & capture the lovely freshness of Marlborough Rose.
Viticulture
Marlborough began the season with cool temperatures and a high number of spring frosts which continually threatened the early season growth. However weeks of warm and dry weather throughout the remainder of the season ensured ripening conditions were optimum for canopy growth and berry development. Although there was a small cold spell at the beginning of flowering, average temperatures over this time were still above the long term average, encouraging a quick fruit set and advanced ripening. An earlier than average harvest with favourable weather during the autumn months allowed the winemakers freedom in their picking decisions. This helped to produce immaculate berries which reached the pinnacle of their expression without the taint of disease. Drought conditions put stress on the region’s water resources this year but also encouraged the production of small berries packed with intense flavours.
