2023 Château Acid Rosé
WINEMAKER: Simon Jones & Charlie O’Brien
REGION: Central Ranges, NSW
VARIETY: Shiraz
VITICULTURE: Certified Organic/Biodynamic
Direct pressed Shiraz, aged half in tank and half in ceramic egg. The medium pink colour belies the depth of fruit flavour, concentrated apple and watermelon, with fresh acidity and a savoury, rose petal note in the finish that creates a balance between the complex and the delicious.
Château Acid is Simon Jones and Charlie O’Brien. Two old friends from Sydney who started the winery in 2017 when, after searching NSW for a place to source fruit they were introduced to Sam Statham of Rosnay Estate, a very special vineyard in the remote central ranges of New South Wales, near the town of Canowindra. The vineyard is certified organic and biodynamic and has never seen chemical sprays since it was planted in 1997, quite a rarity in NSW. About half an hour drive from Orange, this region is relatively untouched by the wine world, save for a small band of organic growers who've found that the warm, dry days and cold nights, along with the sandy decomposed granite, quartz and clay soils make for ideal winegrowing conditions. The Mediterranean and southern French varieties thrive here with saltiness and tension found in the whites, just as the reds possess herbal, savoury qualities that are uncommon for Australia's warm climates. As of 2024 Simon and Charlie have made 7 vintages of wine from these vines, planted to Grenache, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Vermentino.
Whilst they have refined their style and practices over these years, the pair have always aimed from the outset to do the least possible, making pure wines of high energy that focus the life and energy of this pristine vineyard ecosystem. All wines are fermented with wild yeasts, aged on full lees, racked and settled after 9-12 months (24 months for the Chardonnay) and bottled with a small SO2 addition. They use a variety of vessels: Ceramic eggs for the Rosé, terracotta amphorae for the Vermentino and neutral oak for the Chardonnay and Shiraz. Careful ageing, well judged and well timed sulfur additions and extra time resting in bottle mean these wines are open, aromatically developed and stable.