Māori Point Barrel Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosè 2021 $39 
If you’re looking for a bright, fruity, lightly-styled rosé then pull over, indicate right and do a u-turn because this complex, multi-textural, slightly smoky rosé will take you in a different direction entirely. Winemaker Matt Evans has fashioned this from 100% hand-harvested Pinot Noir grapes that are destemmed, crushed, and then soaked for eight hours on their skins to absorb colour and body. It’s then pressed into French oak barrels to be fermented by wild yeasts drawn from the vineyard. After a long, slow ferment, a bunch of lees stirring and a total of 12 months in barrel (highly unusual for a rosé) the result is a deliciously dry, mineral-laced, slightly peachy wine with cleansing acidity and extensive length of flavour.
