Westbrook Crackling Rose 2022

Hand picked Malbec, from our clay Waimauku soils, and Hawkes Bay Merlot from gravel based soils were picked to preserve the freshness and vitality of each of the varieties. Chilled fruit was crushed and pressed with minimal skin contact, before fining and cold settling. The clear juice was racked to both stainless steel tank and seasoned French oak barriques (9%) and inoculated for a coolish ferment with a selected yeast. When the sugar/acid/tannin balance was deemed appropriate the ferment was stopped and the components combined and allowed to rest on yeast lees. The wine was racked, stabilised and prepared for bottling. A light carbonation provides an excitation on the palate, whilst also lifting the beauty and structure of the fruit.