Cuvée Thérèse, Vintage 2016, Sparkling Rosé, Méthode Traditionnelle, extra brut

The 2016 vintage was blessed with a warm, dry summer, creating ideal growing conditions. We selectively harvested a portion of our low-yield, organically grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay two weeks before full ripeness, the stage at which we would typically pick for still wines. This earlier harvest helped retain a higher natural acidity and lower sugar levels, while still achieving greater ripeness than is usual for sparkling wines. The result is a high quality wine with balanced acidity and reduced sugar, elegant on the palate and gentler on the stomach.

Producing wines like this comes at a cost, but as always, I prioritize quality over quantity, or in the case of sparkling wines, quality over high dosage. Instead of high cropping and harvesting unripe grapes, I prefer riper fruit that carries beautiful berry flavours with natural concentration and complexity.
For the base wine, we handpicked only the highest quality grapes, which were crushed and destemmed, followed by a short cold maceration to avoid extracting too much colour from the skins. The wine was then pressed directly into 500L French oak puncheons, where it fermented and aged on the fine lees for 10 months.
For secondary fermentation, we bottled the wine with ‘liqueur de tirage,’ a solution of yeast, wine, and a small amount of sugar, as we aim for a drier sparkling wine. The hallmark of an exceptional vintage Champagne, like Dom Pérignon, lies in its extended lees aging after the second fermentation. Our Spar-kling wine spent over seven years maturing on the lees, allowing it to develop the complex flavours and aromas that set it apart in terms of quality.
After the riddling (remuage) process, we added a low dosage of sugar in the 'liqueur d’expédition’ just before disgorgement to gently balance the wine while preserving its purity.

This Vintage Sparkling Rosé captivates with its rose-pink hue and fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is rich with fresh red berries, particularly raspberries and strawberries. On the palate, it's bright and uplift-ing, with a delightful fruit sweetness and mellow acidity, enhanced by a creamy roundness from extend-ed lees aging. The low yield contributes to its concentrated, full-bodied character, with intense fruit flavours complemented by subtle minerality and a touch of spice. The finish is refreshingly dry, with lingering red berry notes that entice another sip. This small-batch Rosé offers exceptional quality that confidently rivals even the finest Champagne houses.

Technical Data

Pair it with anything, anywhere, anytime! Perfect for the coming festive season as a welcome drink or alongside appetizers and fruity desserts. We love savouring it alongside our national Christmas dessert - a fruity Pavlova or an Italian Panettone. Heaven!

Sweetness Levels of Champagne

A perfect match with rich pasta dishes, beef or game.

James Suckling - 93 points

'A rather eccentric, dark-colored rose sparkling wine made from 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. It shows plenty of dried strawberry, dried orange peel and light caramel aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and flavorful. This will be excellent with food, especially grilled meat. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.' James Suckling