Simpsons Wine Estate Railway Hill Rosé 2021
Simpsons Wine Estate is situated in the Elham Valley; an unspoilt seam in the North Downs of Kent where the contours of the land, the climate and the soil are excellent for viticulture. The intensely lime-rich chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that stretches from southern England to Burgundy. The vines are grown on south facing slopes, ensuring heat accumulation in the day and cold air drainage at night. The vineyard is less than eight miles from the coast, providing a crucial maritime influence insulating the fruit against intense temperature variations. Grass cover crops between the rows encourage biodiversity within the vineyard and pruning and harvesting takes place by hand. The Railway Hill Rosé is made with as little intervention as possible. The hand-picked grapes were whole bunch pressed before undergoing a long and slow fermentation in stainless tanks with wild and selected aromatic yeasts. This wine did not go through malolactic conversion, retaining a crisp and vibrant character, but spent time on fine yeast lees to build palate weight, before being bottled the following spring. This delicate Pinot Noir rosé has fresh aromas of watermelon and lychee, with peachy, stone-fruit flavours and a delightfully smooth texture and mouth-feel.
