Divergence Hughes Vineyard Brut Rosé Sparkling 2021

This single vineyard 100% Pinot Noir Rosé, sourced from the Hughes Vineyard in the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation, is made both with and without skin contact to extract colour and strike balance of flavour and texture. It’s aged for two years in bottle and was disgorged in March with just 1 g/L dosage (so essentially, ‘extra brut’) using barrel aged reserve wine from the same harvest. It shows an inviting salmon colour in the glass with a vigorous bead and lovely strawberries, wild raspberries, cherries, cranberries, and lime zest. It’s wonderfully dry and vibrant with a firm, persistent bubble as it takes on a more earthy tone on the palate adding complexity to the pure red berries, subtle note of anise, toasty almonds, and mouth-watering acidity, giving this delicious sparkler lift and finesse through the finish. Score – 93. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, May 22, 2024)