Cirillo 1850 Ancestor Vine Rosato Barossa – 2022

Cirillo Estate’s Ancestor Vine Grenache Rosato from the Barossa Valley is no ordinary Rosé! These very special old vines were planted back in 1848, producing their first vintage in 1850, and they are now the world’s oldest Grenache vines still in production!  The vines have survived this long mainly because of the dry, sandy soils on which they grow; phylloxera could never survive in such dry conditions, which is why this remote part of South Australia still has so many wonderful old vines.

This amazing rosé is dry, full bodied, with spicy acidity and delicious floral flavours of red cherry and pomegranate. 

“The 2022 Rosato is super pretty, with redcurrants, pomegranate, cherry and petals. I marvel at this wine because Marco Cirillo uses super old vine fruit—1848 plantings. Can you believe that, for rosé! Anyway, it does make good rosé. It was destemmed straight into the press, sat on skins all day and was pressed in the evening. It’s really pleasurable and pure. The 2.9 grams per liter of residual sugar does slick the wine a little, but when it comes to rosé, pleasure is paramount. And this is pleasurable. It has nice tannic structure through the finish. 12.7% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” 92/100pts The Wine Advocate