Hi guys,

I am still writing about about Lindauer but this is a special reserve rose ( it is pronounced as 'roh-zay'). The ladies will love it simply because of the colour - it's pink. Just in case the guys think that this is a sissy wine, it is far from being a sissy. In fact, I my taste buds are so activated every time I drink this. It is crisp, complex and robust. A lot has to do with the large amount of pinot noir that is used in this wine.

For those who don't know much about sparkling wine, most good sparkling (Champagne) is a blend of pinot noir and chardonay grapes. Pinot noir is a type of red grapes and chardonay is a type of white grapes. The reason why most Champagne appears light gold in colour is because the wine makers remove pinot noir grapes from the juice quickly so that it does not take on the colour of the pinot noir. However, in making rose, winemakers allow the pinot noir grapes' skin to soak for a short while so that the juice takes on a pretty pink and richer flavours from the pinot noir grapes.

This rose not only takes on the colour of pinot noir, the larger proportion of pinot noir imparts the nuttiness and robustness. Not many winemakers amke this kind of sparkling wines anymore.I was told even in Champagne, France, there are very of this kind of wine. Of course, this is a special reserve so it costs more than the Lindauer Brut (Brut means dry in French). If I am not wrong, it is selling at $42 in Cold Storage.

Anyway, if you don't mind spending a little bit to get something very much better, try this. I recommended this wine to my friend to use this as the aperitif below he propose to his girl friend. I believe this will work. :-)

Cheers

This wine is a more special version of Lindauer and since its launch has received high acclaim from wine critics and commentators for its uniqueness and elegance.

Winemaker's Notes

Initial release date: 1996
Varieties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Regions: Hawke's Bay and Marlborough

Description

Colour: Bright gold with coppery tones.

Aromas: Yeasty and toasty bouquet show excellent maturity from prolonged bottle maturation.

Palate: The wine is full on the palate with a pleasant, steady mousse and elegant aroma. The palate is crisp, complex and well balanced, with a predominance of Pinot Noir for full flavour and lasting taste.

Harvest

A portion of the grapes are hand-picked, then whole-bunch pressed through the gentle action of the traditional Coquard press. The remainder are machine harvested. Only the highest quality free-run juice has been used to produce this wine. New clones of Pinot Noir from Hawke's Bay have given a much richer and full style of wine.

Winemaking

Winemaker: Julia O'Connell

The wine is fermented in the bottle and spends two years ageing on lees. Use of controlled temperature storage has ensured optimum development, allowing the expression of the fruit and desirable yeast flavours.

Analysis

Alcohol: 12.0% by volume
pH: 3.25
Total Acidity: 7.5g/L as tartaric
Residual Sugar: 12.0g/L