Pale rose in colour. Pinot noir rosé is a vibrant wine with fresh and lively aromas of cherry, rosé petal, musk and spice. These classic varietal characters are captured on the palate and combine beautifully with the juicy acidity and creamy texture characterised by rosé wines made from this variety.

Pinot noir grapes for this rosé were grown in the heart of the Yarra Valley. The vineyard was earmarked by the winemakers for the production of é style wine for a number of reasons including the clone and soil type, as well as row orientation and canopy structure. The specific aim for the production of pinot noir for é is the retention of lovely, soft, red berry fruit flavours as well as savoury, supple tannins. This has been achieved by careful canopy management practices.

The vineyard chosen to produce the 2010 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Rosé was carefully monitored by the winemakers throughout the ripening period to determine the exact timing of the harvest. The grapes were harvested when they were expressing vibrant and soft cherry flavours, as well as an appropriate and moderate sugar content. After harvesting in the cool of the morning and immediate crushing at the winery, the grapes underwent a ‘cold soak’ with the juice in contact with the skins for 36 hours. This process is essential for extracting just the right amount of colour and tannin from the skins while retaining fruit character and texture. The juice was pressed off the skins and fermented at cool temperatures to ensure that the vibrant fruit flavours of the vineyard were captured in the final bottle.