Winemaker Notes
Vineyard
The grapes for the 2007 Pinot Noir Rose were sourced from several sites within the Yarra Valley. Soils at these sites vary from aged alluvial loams with high clay content in the upper Yarra Valley to the alluvial soils of the valley floor. The target yield was between seven and eight tonnes per hectare. All the vineyards are trained to the standard vertical shoot positioning trellis to maximize the development of varietal flavours. The cool climate of the Yarra Valley produces Pinot Noir with elegant, vibrant fruit flavours and true varietal characters. A more shaded canopy for Rose grown Pinot Noir means less exposure for the fruit resulting in lower phenolics and tannins.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
As the most important area of wine production in Victoria today, the Yarra Valley is most popular for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which account for over half of vineyard acreage. A gentle, rolling and rural region alongside the Margaret River, the Yarra Valley has a cool maritime climate with a lengthy growing season, perfect for these cool-climate varieties.
Two styles of Pinot Noir are possible here. The warmer Lower Yarra Valley with sandy, loam soils, produces plush and fruity Pinot Noir while the cooler, higher-elevation Upper Yarra Valley with soils of young red basalt, produces more angular and mineral-driven Pinot Noir.
Yarra Valley Chardonnay is among the best in Australia. To preserve the floral aromatics and fresh citrus flavors for which this area’s Chardonnay is so appreciated, time in barrel is restrained (though barrel fermentation is common). The best Yarra Valley Chardonnays display brilliant acidity, leesy characteristics, citrus, stone fruit and flavors of ginger and spice.
Shiraz and Cabernet find success in parts of this region as well.