2011 Stephanie the Gnome with Rose Tinted Glasses Pinot Noir Cinsault Mourvedre
68% Pinot Noir, 25% Cinsault, 7% Mourvedre
The Story Behind The Name
Our mate, Stephanie the Gnome, is not too fussed about his funny name. A jolly little fellow, after a few sips he sees life through rosè coloured glasses. He only needs to look at his stable mates to see that oddball names have never hurt a d’Arenberg wine. Stephanie is also comforted by the fact he is named after Savigny-lès-Beaune in Burgundy, a region famous for the main grape variety of this unique blend.
The Characteristics
The nose is packed with fruits of the forest. Distinct Pinot Noir characters of earth and dry leaves shine through with a couple of swirls. It’s aromatic and complex with notes of rose petal, lavender and violets adding a pretty touch. Bright cherry, strawberry and spicy plum open the generous palate. There is a balanced viscosity to the wine with textural interest from the mineral tannins. As the wine opens up the violet notes from the Pinot and the lavender nuances from the Cinsault come to the fore. This is a serious dry style rose packed with varietal Pinot Noir characters. The sweetness, acid and tannin are well balanced and the floral elements add a feminine touch to what is largely a masculine version of rosé. The tannin and depth of flavour will make it a perfect match to barbequed steak and spicy Italian sausages.