Description
Ashton Hills has the oldest pinot vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. Stephen George wears two winemakers’ hats … one for his Ashton Hills wines coming from his estate vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills, the other for the iconic Wendouree wines in Clare. He refers to his dry grown Piccadilly Valley vineyard planted back in 1982 as the “Burgundy of the Adelaide Hills”. Stephen is one of Australia’s most highly respected winemaking viticulturalists and a pioneer of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. In 1982 he planted his dry-grown 3 hectare vineyard (which he refers to as his garden!) and has experimented much with trellising and planting 21 different pinot clones and settled on the best performing 5 clones.
We are thrilled to see the return of Ashton Hill’s fine sparkler. The label has had a slight makeover and name change .. previously called Salmon Brut, is now called Vintage Rosé.
Pinot Noir fruit for the Ashton Hills Vintage Rosé is sourced from a single vineyard lying in the Piccadilly Valley – a particularly cool, wet and humid part of the Adelaide Hills. An area well-suited to producing crisp, finely-flavoured sparkling wines.
Piccadilly Valley’s cold climate—with its low-degree day summation, north-facing aspect and altitude—provides ideal conditions for this 100% Pinot Noir blanc de noirs. Sourced from the Bickles Road vineyard, the 2017 was hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed, with the free-run juice drained to tank for settling. Fermentation was in tank before tirage. The wine was disgorged after one year on lees, with the liqueur d’expédition a blend of Ashton Hills’ still Pinot Noir and 7 g/L dosage.
It starts off all lifted and fruity—like your nose is buried a bowl of fresh cherry, strawberry and raspberry fruit—before subtle damask rose and creamy, biscuity notes add complexity. The palate is bright, frothy and juicy, with lees character, sweet fruit and refreshing, natural acidity each playing their part. As always, terrific for the money.
Reviews on 2016 …96 points and included in Best of the Best in James Halliday’s 2020 Australian Wine Companion “Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed. Delicious fresh-cut strawberries and red cherries, when you taste the fruit you think it will be sweet, but it’s not, it is utterly hedonistic, with further development on cork if you so wish.”
92 points, Huon Hooke The Real Review “Pale-pink colour. Smoky pinot aromas, a touch of cracked yeast character, a little toast. Soft, finely-textured and dry, the acidity well-harmonised and a seemingly low liqueur level.”
RRP $47 **Special Buy $39.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
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