Winemaker Thierry Haberer has been making wine around the world for more than a decade, with roots that go back earlier than that – his grandfather was a vine grower in Morocco and later a producer in Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea where his father still makes wine today! “Growing up I was continuously exposed to great wines, visiting remarkable vineyards and tasting its creations, but my passion for wine making grew slowly until it became an obvious course I was destined to follow.”

It was in 2008 that Thierry went on to join forces with one of France’s best-known wine consultants, Michel Rolland. A few years later saw him pack his bags to move to South Africa. A deep love for the country along with its diverse terroir (and cultures) made the move easy for Thierry. “You encounter different terroir and climates within short distances and I enjoy being able to work with most of the varietals and having the ability to achieve excellent results. I see South Africa as somewhere I can contribute my winemaking experiences and fulfill my personal and professional goals going forward.”

Blend – Rosalie is made in the traditional Provençal style, and in 2019 with 100% Grenache

Winemaking – Hand-picked in small crates, bunch-sorting was done in the vineyard to retain fruit quality and integrity. A process of gentle, whole-bunch pressing was followed with no sulphur added to avoid too much extraction. Following a 12hr period in tank to rest and settle, the gross lees are racked and only the finest and most aromatic lees are retained for full complexity and freshness. With the onset of fermentation, 20% went into 2nd fill barrels allowing
contact with the oak at an early stage, bringing some volume but avoiding too much wood character. The remainder stayed instainless steel tanks to maintain the freshness of the fruit.
During the 4-month fermentation and aging, “batonnage” was done to extract the beautiful aromas and bring some volume to our rosé, in order to reach the perfect balance, between freshness of the fruit, acidity and mouthfeel. A light fining was enough to keep the essence and purity of Rosalie.

Bright salmon pink. Fresh and fruity nose coated with strawberry creme, melon, watermelon and white flowers. High acidity and light bodied. Zesty, floral and fruity on the palate. Layered with rose water, strawberries and melon. Long finish.

Tim Atkin – 90 points