8 Mar / Best Rosé Tasting - Auckland https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/556438230727
9 Mar / Best Rosé Tasting - Queenstown https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/556453446237
14 Feb / Best Rosé Tasting - Wellington https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/best-rose-tasting-wellington-tickets-520141646667
The vintage 2022 was a fruitful vintage thanks to the warm spring; fruit set and berry quantities were above average, a satisfactory result since 2021 was a much smaller vintage. La Niña brought cooler and wetter weather to most parts of the country in February. Executive decisions were crucial, chosen before rain reduced the number of plump grapes; picking grapes after rain led to dilution and increased the risk of disease and rot. Covid peaked at harvest time, staff shortage and sickness added challenges to the mix. Central Otago had an exception of enjoying a drier and hotter summer under the La Nina influence, with perfect ripening conditions.
The Top 10 Rosé of vintage 2022 selection reflects the above; Central Otago shone and took seven places, one each from Waitaki, Martinborough and Hawke's Bay.
#1 & #2
Misha's Vineyard The Soloist Pinot Rosé 2022, Central Otago
The team at Misha's Vineyard have got it right once again! The Rosé 2021 was already a favourite; I'm not sure how they managed to top it off. Complex and alluring, also savoury and floral. The Pinot Noir grapes were destemmed and crushed, left on skins for 18 hours, the majority fermented in stainless steel and 15% in older oak to give it more depth and texture.
Trinity Hill Thomson's Block Rosé 2022, Hawke's Bay
The first vintage of this single vineyard range released from the Thomson's Block from Roy's Hill, using 100% Syrah, handpicked, whole bunch pressed, fermented in stainless steel tank to start, then transferred to 500-litre French oak puncheons to finish. The intense fruit and structure of this wine are refined and impressive.
#3, #4 & #5
The Elder Rosé 2022, Martinborough
The Elder is a small producer on a river terrace along the White Rock Road overlooking the Te Muna terrace; only Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and an olive grove grow here. The cool-climate region provides a long, even, sunny growing season, combining the free-draining stony soils that result in naturally low-yielding crops with delicate yet concentrated flavour, and it's evident in the wine.
Q Rosé 2022, Waitaki Valley
The 59 hectares planted region of Waitaki is small but mighty. Vines grew on limestone bases spread through river gravels, with a comfortably hot and dry summer and a long, dry autumn, allowing a long hang time for grapes to develop and achieve ripeness. The La Nina weather system brought a cooler and more humid summer across Waitaki Valley, resulting in consistent and uniform grape yields with more intense fruit flavours. 10% of the grapes were fermented in oak barriques to add complexity and texture.
Penkridge Farm Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Central Otago
PJ and Justine Davis are relatively new in the Central Otago wine scene, but their family goes back five generations growing up in Central Otago. The 4 hectares block at the foothill of the Pisa Range was planted in 2001-2003. In 2019, the vineyard began replanting resistant rootstock, improving irrigation and fertiliser practices, and now see fruition from this beautiful site. This Rosé is made from clone 10/5 and Abel, fermented in stainless steel to show off the purity of fruit and silky mouthfeel.
#6
Rockburn Stolen Kiss 2022, Central Otago
Stolen Kiss is one of the most popular Rosé in the country, usually leaning towards an off-dry style with around 15 grams of residual sugar. Vintage 2022 sees a change of lower residual sugar with just 9 grams and hardly noticeable with the balanced, crisp acidity, emphasising the lush fruit and a creamy palate.
#7 & #8
Coal Pit Rosé 2022, Central Otago
Coal Pit Rosé is another popular Rosé with a great following, a boutique family vineyard, and the seven heactres of vineyard planted some of the oldest Pinot Noir in Gibbston. The wine is made by young winemaker Anika Wilner who joined the team for the 2018 vintage and has been the driving force behind the BioGro organic conversion; they will be fully certified later this year.
Te Pā Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Marlborough
This sub $20 Rosé is hard to beat! One of the most solid, value-driven brands in the market. Generous in flavour, elegant and thirst quenching. Owner Haysley MacDonald is a direct descendant of a Maori ancestor who arrived 800 years ago. He and his family converted their dairy and crop farm into vineyards in 2003, and in 2011, te Pā was born. Te Pā is part of the world's first Māori winemakers collective, TUKU.
#9 & #10
(Due to availability, these two wines are not included in the Best Rosé tasting events.)
Three Miners Rocker Box Rosé 2022, Central Otago
Three Miners Vineyard is situated in Earnscleugh Valley, halfway between Alexandra and Clyde. The soil type is shallow, free-draining Molyneux sandy loam with some stony sand. Established in 2000 with just 4 hectares of vines, the vineyard is 15.5 hectares today. Matt Connell makes the wine. Yet to be released.
Carrick Organic Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Canetral Otago
Situated on Cairnmuir Road in Bannockburn, Carrick Winery has been certified organic since 2008. Winemaker Rosie Menzies has been solely in charge since the vintage of 2020 and produces wine with purity and delicate texture. This Rosé has been very popular and almost sold out.
Read full reviews in expansions below.
FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW
- Trinity Hill Thomson’s Block Rosé 2022, Hawke’s Bay
- Misha’s Vineyard The Soloist Pinot Rosé 2022, Central Otago
- The Elder Rosé 2022, Martinborough
- Q Rosé 2022, Waitaki Valley
- Penkridge Farm Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Central Otago
- Rockburn Stolen Kiss 2022, Central Otago
- Coal Pit Rosé 2022, Central Otago
- Te Pa Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Marlborough
- Three Miners Rocker Box Rosé 2022, Central Otago
- Carrick Organic Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Central Otago
