Waterford Rose-mary 2025 - Single

Features

Description

The Waterford Rose-Mary 2025 is an elegant, dry ros* crafted in the traditional Provence-inspired Blanc de Noir style. Rather than relying on a single grape variety, Waterford creates Rose-Mary from an unusually complex blend of nine red grape varieties, led by Shiraz and Tempranillo. The fruit is sourced predominantly from Waterford Estate, with additional grapes selected from vineyards elsewhere in Stellenbosch.

The 2025 growing season was characterised by mild summer conditions, cool evenings and a slightly later harvest, allowing for extended ripening while retaining freshness and balanced acidity. Only around three hours of skin contact is allowed during whole-bunch pressing, producing Rose-Mary's distinctive pale blush colour without extracting excessive tannin.

The wine then follows a white-wine-style vinification before spending four months on its fine lees, adding texture and complexity. The result is a beautifully dry and refreshing ros* combining white peach, strawberry and apricot with delicate floral notes and a long mineral finish. Tasting Notes Colour: Delicate pale blush pink, reflecting the short skin contact and Blanc de Noir production method.

Nose: Elegant and aromatic, with white peach and rose water at the forefront. Subtle strawberry, apricot and delicate floral notes emerge with time in the glass. Palate: Fresh and beautifully balanced. White peach is joined by fresh strawberry and ripe apricot, with bright natural acidity providing lift.

Fine-lees maturation contributes subtle texture without sacrificing the wine's light, refreshing character. Finish: Long, clean and complex, with lingering stone fruit and a refreshing mineral backbone that gives the wine excellent precision and finesse. Awards & Accolades The 2025 vintage has already performed extremely well, with several accolades worth highlighting on the product page: 92 Points Winemag.co.za Ros* Report 2025 Gold Ros* Wine & Spirit Challenge 2025 WCellar Top 10 South African Wines of 2026 Bronze Medal / 85 Points Investec Trophy Wine Show 2026 The 92-point Winemag score is particularly impressive for a wine positioned as a fresh, accessible ros* rather than a high-priced collector's wine.

Technical Details Producer: Waterford Estate Wine: Rose-Mary Vintage: 2025 Country: South Africa Wine of Origin: Western Cape Style: Dry Ros* / Blanc de Noir Winemaker: Mark le Roux Vineyards: Predominantly Waterford Estate with additional Stellenbosch fruit Pressing: Whole-bunch pressed Skin Contact: Approximately 3 hours Maturation: 4 months on fine lees Alcohol: 12.5% ABV Residual Sugar: 1.25 g/L Total Acidity: 6.18 g/L pH: 3.44 Bottle Size: 750ml Closure: Screwcap Ageing Potential: 03 years from production 2025 Blend The Rose-Mary is particularly interesting because Waterford uses a diverse collection of Mediterranean and Bordeaux varieties rather than a conventional ros* blend: 35% Shiraz 20% Tempranillo 13% Malbec 10% Grenache 9% Merlot 7% Cinsaut 4% Mourv*dre 1% Sangiovese 1% Barbera