Bethany Wines - Cabernet Franc Rosé 2009

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Tasting Notes
Raspberries, cherry blossom and blackcurrants highlight the fruit driven nose. The palate is generous but balanced with soft tannins, leading to an elegantly structured black cherry finish. There is a touch of residual sugar finishing dry with lingering acidity. This wine will be enjoyed with alfresco meals, including trout or salmon, and especially with a delicately spiced antipasto.

Vineyard Notes
The Bethany Rose was sourced from forty year old Cabernet Franc vines grown on the gentle slopes in front of the Bethany winery, nestled at the base of the Barossa Ranges. The vineyard benefits from the cooling gully breezes during the warm months of summer, moderating ripening over an extended period of time.

Vintage Report
The growing season leading up to the 2009 vintage was ideal for healthy vine growth and fruit development. The rain into late spring never saw the Barossa look better. The heatwave in late January/early February was a concern. The well managed vineyards on good soils survived the heat well. The use of straw mulch to reduce soil temperatures along with hard spur pruning techniques to shelter the fruit helped to lessen the effect of heat stress on the vines. By mid February mild and dry conditions with cool nights prevailed, which resulted in slow, even ripening, keeping flavours and natural acidity in balance. Yields were below average, but with exceptional flavours. Flavours are intense and colour strong. The wines are aromatic, dense and balanced.

Winemaking Report

The Cabernet Franc was harvested early to retain natural acidity and a fresh bright cherry colour. The fruit was crushed, de-stemmed and kept on skins at cold temperatures for 24 hours allowing pink/raspberry colours to develop. The free run juice was then drained off the skins and seeded with a selected Rhone yeast under temperature control. After 8 –10 days the fermentation was arrested at just below 3.5 grams per litre of natural residual sugar. The wine was chilled, fined and cold stabilised prior to bottling in June 2009 to retain its fresh colour and fruit.