Tasting Notes
Disg. March 2024. Jack and Lois Doeven’s Drumborg site is again the source for the Rosé de Saignée. Ray Nadeson and Maree Collis have worked with this site for 20-odd years, placing great value on the vineyard’s high natural acidity at full ripeness. The composition here is Meunier at 42%, Pinot Gris at 39% and Pinot Noir at 19%. Nadeson destemmed the fruit to barrel for fermentation and used a rolling ferment, adding parcels as they came into the winery. The wine spent 12 months in large puncheons and underwent full malolactic conversion. After three years on lees in bottle, the wine was disgorged and topped up with wine from the 20-year-old perpetual reserve. As is Ray and Maree’s preference, there was no dosage.
It’s no secret that Ray Nadeson seeks power, structure and flavour in his wines, and this Rosé de Saignée is no different. Offering up aromas of crushed flowers and berries, spice and vibrant minerality, the structure is delicate yet potent, with a deep core of fruit, driving length and a tight, lasting finish. It’s a gastronomic tour de force; try it with tuna tartare or grilled salmon. - Distributor Note
Have you ever sat around enjoying a drink with your friends and imagined ‘What if we could…..??’.
This is how our story began:
Lethbridge Wines grew from a friendship between Ray Nadeson, Maree Collis and Adrian Thomas. Back in the mid 1990’s we were busy establishing careers in science and medicine and shared a love of great wine which ultimately became quite an obsession. The afternoons sipping Burgundies were replaced by weekends searching for the perfect vineyard site and then by afternoons digging holes and planting vines. For two of us (Maree and Ray) the passion for wine drove us to a tree change, and in 2003 after 7 years of balancing careers in science and running a vineyard and winery, we made Lethbridge Wines our reison d'etre.
Our aim is to produce natural, savory wines that focus on balance and texture with a real sense of place or terroir.
Maree Collis and Ray Nadeson are not your average winemakers of a boutique winery. Both were initially trained as research scientists and hold PhD degrees in chemistry and medicine, respectively. While combining their scientific careers with winemaking, Maree and Ray completed the winemaking degree at Charles Sturt University. Ray states, "winemaking is not really that different to science, both are creative and both involve 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration".
Not surprisingly, the site at Lethbridge was selected based on scientific principles such as soil type, degree days and other climatic indicators, yet when the three partners first explored the property they discovered an ancient old wooden fermentation vat in one of the old sheds. Discussion with the previous owner (Ivor Perdrisat) revealed that his family, Swiss in origin, had planted a vineyard on the exact site back in the 1870's before the discovery of phylloxera in the region. The old wine vat has been reincarnated as a beautiful timber tasting bench in the cellar door. This story is compelling in the connection between traditional wisdom and modern science.
| Product Type | Wine Sparkling Australasia |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Victoria |
| Sub Region | Henty |
| Winemaking Practices | Conventional |
| Vineyard Practices | Conventional |