Rosé Brut 2021
HUGHES VINEYARD
This single vineyard 100% Pinot Noir Rosé sparkling is a beautiful expression of the grape variety and site. Pinot Noir base wines from the Hughes Vineyard made both with and without skin contact to extract colour strike the perfect balance of flavour and delicate texture. Aged for 2 years in bottle, this wine was disgorged in March 2024 with just 1 g/L dosage using barrel aged reserve wine from the same harvest. 800 bottles were produced at this disgorging with a portion held for later release.
Rosé Brut 2021
HUGHES VINEYARD
This single vineyard 100% Pinot Noir Rosé sparkling is a beautiful expression of the grape variety and site. Pinot Noir base wines from the Hughes Vineyard made both with and without skin contact to extract colour strike the perfect balance of flavour and delicate texture. Aged for 2 years in bottle, this wine was disgorged in March 2024 with just 1 g/L dosage using barrel aged reserve wine from the same harvest. 800 bottles were produced at this disgorging with a portion held for later release.
SENSORY PROFILE
Pale salmon-pink with a fine bubble, this wine has aromas of strawberry, raspberry, cherry blossoms, peach pit, and hot cross buns. The palate is broad, with acidity and texture, and a complex finish which adds nuttiness, lemon, and cooked cherries on the palate.
FOOD PAIRINGS
This wine has great potential to pair with a variety of foods. Fresh seafood, cheese and charcuterie including cured meats and nuts, fresh salads, and grilled or roasted vegetables are all great choices.
CELLARING POTENTIAL
This wine is drinking nicely on release and will be showing best from 2025-2029.
VINTAGE
The 2021 vintage started with relatively good vine and bud health from a small crop and mild winter. Summer temperatures were among the hottest on record and conditions were optimal for flowering and fruit set.
In August, what appeared to be an early and ripe vintage stalled due to drought. This was followed by record rains in September and October resulting in a rapid increase in cluster weight and dilution of berry contents. Where harvest was able to be delayed until adequate ripening, most varieties are showing good fruit character early with delicate aromatic white varieties and fruit driven red varieties.
WINE DATA
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 11.6%
Dosage: 1 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 6.4 g/L
pH: 3.20
Tirage Date: 2022-03
Disgorging Date: 2024-03
Production: 800 bottles
VINEYARD AND HARVEST DATA
Appellation: Lincoln Lakeshore
Site: Hughes Vineyard
Soil: Jeddo clay loam
Clones: 115, 667, 777 (field blend)
Rootstock: 3309
Vine Age: unknown, older
Harvest Dates: 2021-09-06 and 2021-09-11
Yield: 4.7 T/ac
VINIFICATION
Pinot Noir from the Hughes Vineyard was harvested on September 6 and whole cluster pressed to yield a high-quality juice. Following cold settling and racking the juice was fermented at cool temperatures in a stainless steel tank.
Another lot of fruit from this block was harvested September 11, crushed and destemmed, and allowed to soak on its skins for 4 days to extract colour. After this time, it was pressed, settled, racked, and fermented using a more aromatic yeast strain The base wines were aged separately for 5 months before blending to give the ideal base wine, followed by coarse filtration to prepare for tirage. The wine was bottled on March 2, 2022 and secondary fermentation was completed within one month. The wine then aged on lees in bottle for 24 months before disgorging in March 2024.
The wine was finished with just 1 g/L dosage of organic beet sugar using barrel aged reserve wine from the same harvest.
REVIEWS
“A clean and gently fragrant, Light and ethereal rosé from Divergence, a pure pinot noir from the Hughes Vineyard, with base wine aged in stainless to yield a tight and fresh, fruity example. Two years on lees left little time for full autolysis to develop, making this more forward and immediate, fruity rosé, though certainly within the genre. Crunchy acids and dry finish, a fine aperitif option, fairly priced in the end. Tasted November 2024.” 90 points – John Szabo, MS
“This single vineyard 100% Pinot Noir Rosé, sourced from the Hughes Vineyard in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation, is made both with and without skin contact to extract colour and strike balance of flavour and texture. It’s aged for two years in bottle and was disgorged in March with just 1 g/L dosage (so essentially, “extra brut”) using barrel aged reserve wine from the same harvest. It shows an inviting salmon colour in the glass with a vigorous bead and lovely strawberries, wild raspberries, cherries, cranberries, and lime zest. It’s wonderfully dry and vibrant with a firm, persistent bubble as it takes on a more earthy tone on the palate adding complexity to the pure red berries, subtle note of anise, toasty almonds, and mouth-watering acidity, giving this delicious sparkler lift and finesses through the finish.” 93 points – Rick Vansickle, Wines in Niagara
“Mono-varietal, single vineyard and traditional method add up to a sparkling wine that faces adversity without excess emotion, with calm and confident restraint. That and complexity in an earthy, fruity and lactic way, swaying a bit to the funky side but righting itself with top acidity and character. Not quite as clean as the Brut made with chardonnay but no one would call this ’21 a fizz lacking in personality. Drink 2024-2026. Tasted November 2024.” 89 points – Michael Godel, Wine Align
“#1 Sparkling Rose of the Year! Fresh, expressive, with an outstanding creamy mousse. Flavours include fresh strawberries, rhubarb and crab apple. The wine is vibrant with stunning acidity, great length and great complexity. I believe it will improve for at least seven more years – or perhaps we will be surprised by more. This is Pinot Noir sparkling at it’s best!” 92 points – Carls Wine Club