Hattingley Valley - Hampshire, United Kingdom
There was a time we might've thought Épernay was as close as we’d get to the English wine frontier. That changed when this ambitious, charismatic and far-sighted producer from Hampshire got in touch. Hattingley Valley was established in 2008, when Simon Robinson planted the first south-facing site. He and "extraordinarily talented” (says Matthew Jukes) winemaker Emma Rice then planned the modern, eco-friendly winery in Wield, which was completed in 2010. It released its first wine in August 2013, and a year later was declared to have made the world's finest vintage rosé in the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships. These wines have bright, clear, crisp fruit, a subtly fragrant hedgerow tone and searing acidity in seamless balance. Barrel ferments and lees ageing are judged perfectly for texture, complexity and overall integration. Jancis Robinson justly cites Hattingley Valley as one of the producers that "have really put English vineyards on the world wine map”. It’s our pleasure to give Australia a taste of this English idyll.
Hattingley Valley Rose 2019
Pinot Noir 59%, Pinot Meunier 36%, Pinot Précoce 5%. Acidity 10.6g/L and residual sugar 9g/L. The 2013 Rosé was blended from the finest Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier parcels with approximately 10% of the blend having been fermented in four- and five-year-old Burgundy barrels. Before tirage the team blended the base wines with 5% red wine made from Pinot Précoce to give a delicate soft pink colour and some vibrant red fruit flavours. The wine spent at least 18 months ageing on lees in the bottle before being disgorged with 8g/L dosage.
Tasting Notes
Subtle and delicate in colour, this is an elegant rosé with an abundance of red fruit and fresh acidity, supported by fine toasty notes developed by ageing on lees in the bottle.
