Apogee Deluxe Vintage Rose 2021

Light salmon pink in the glass. Aromas of red apple, redcurrant and raspberry along with hints of ruby-red grapefruit, sea spray, almond paste, white flowers, brioche, grilled Brazil nut, red berry Danish and crushed stone. Taut, hightensile, saline acidity draws the wine into focus and provides a mineral-laden driveline, pastry and red fruits swelling before slowly retreating with a precise line and lingering, umami-rich finish.

The key features of the 2021 season were cooler than average temperatures and almost exactly average rainfall with only 23 mm in the ripening month of March. Harvest by hand of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier took place on 8 April 2021, which is late by our sparkling standards and was a result of the cool mid-summer.
TERROIR
The key to this wine is the terroir of the Apogee Vineyard located near Lebrina in northern Tasmania. The soil type is
ferrosol, an acidic basalt-derived soil, which has a deep, porous and well-drained clay-based profile based on
decomposing rock.
The climate at Apogee at Lebrina in northern Tasmania, on average, is as cool as Champagne: Apogee GST (average
growing season temp) is 14.5⁰C, like Ay and Damery in Champagne, which are at the warmer end of that cool district. Apogee has high summer humidity, another feature we have in common with Champagne.
WINEMAKING
A vineyard blend of 51 % pinot noir, 39 % chardonnay and 10 % pinot meunier was hand-picked and whole bunch
pressed with oxidative handling methods to enhance complex flavours and degrade pigment derived from the black pinot noir skins. The oxidative pressing makes sparkling more complex and less fruity. It was tiraged (bottled with yeast) on 23 November 2021 and is currently disgorged (yeast removal) with around 30 months on lees.
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DEL UXE M ETH OD
Apogee has adopted this description of its Traditional Method to highlight the fact that it is seeking not only to match ordinary Champagne but is also striving to emulate Deluxe Cuvées by nuancing all the vineyard quality factors with carefully chosen winemaking methods destined to enhance quality and complexity. Single vineyard status plus winemaking interventions such as the use of oak in primary fermentation and aged wine in liqueurs are choices not available for mass-produced Champagne.

The Apogee Vineyard is located in northern Tasmania, benefiting from a cool-climate environment that is ideal for growing Pinot Noir. The site, established by renowned winemaker Dr. Andrew Pirie, is known for its attention to detail and low-intervention practices, allowing the natural characteristics of the vineyard to shine through in the wines.

The unique terroir of Apogee contributes to the wine’s signature floral and fruit characteristics, along with the minerality and elegance that define the Alto range. With carefully managed yields and a focus on sustainable viticulture, Apogee produces wines that are both expressive and refined, showcasing the best of Tasmania’s cool-climate viticulture.

2024 Halliday Wine Companion - 95 Points.