Pieter Ferreira Rosé 2017

Ann Ferreira refers to husband, Graham Beck chief operating officer and chairman of the Cap Classique Producers Association as “her winemaker” – although her range of top-end, small-batch bubblies under the Pieter Ferreira label is made at the Graham Beck cellar, Pieter is contractually obliged to remain unaffiliated when it comes to sales and marketing.

Even so, Ann gets to work with the pick of the fruit coming into the Graham Beck cellar and the resulting wines are among the very best in the country.

Soon to be released is the Rosé 2017 (approximate retail price: R425 a bottle). Consisting entirely of Pinot Noir, 52% was sourced from Darling and 48% from Durbanville, the wine spending some six years on lees. The nose is still remarkably primary with notes of Turkish Delight, rose, cranberry, raspberry and cherry while the palate shows pure fruit, racy acidity and a fine mousse, the finish super-dry and slightly salty. It’s a little more tight and nervy than 2016 and should mature beautifully. Alc: 12%. Dosage: 2.6 g/l.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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