Castelli The Sum Rose 2024

Tasting Notes

• Colour: A delicate pink hue with hints of pale salmon, visually appealing and inviting.
• Aromatics: An intense nose of red fruits such as strawberry and raspberry, along with the creamy richness of crème fraîche and a subtle touch of white peach.
• Palate: On the palate, bright red fruit flavours such as strawberry and raspberry lead, with a slight savouriness adding depth and intrigue to the experience. The wine’s crisp acidity and smooth texture make it refreshing and balanced.
• Finish: A clean, dry finish with lingering fruit and a delicate savoury note that adds to its complexity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

• Charcuterie & Soft Cheeses: This Rosé pairs beautifully with a platter of charcuterie, such as prosciutto or salami, along with creamy cheeses like brie or camembert.
• Grilled Fish or Prawns: The freshness and acidity of this wine make it an ideal companion for grilled seafood, including prawns or light fish dishes.
• Salads & Light Pasta: A great match for fresh salads, particularly those with goat cheese or citrus dressing, and light pasta dishes like a simple pasta primavera.
• Asian Cuisine: Try it with sushi, tempura, or a light Thai salad for a refreshing pairing that complements the wine’s fruit-forward character.

Vineyard & Winemaking

2024 was the earliest season on record for the Great Southern, eclipsing 2014, 2018 and 2020 (our most recent warm years) in terms of average start and finish times. Winter 2023 was cool and wet, providing good subsoil moisture, however Spring conversely was warm, dry and stable, flowering was compact in its timing for most varieties. Fruit set from flowering provided below long-term average yields, and the ongoing dry conditions ensured an accelerated but uniform ripening season. Some heat spikes from late-January through to mid-February ensured winemakers and viticulturists were on their toes with the key to success being regular tasting and inspecting blocks and being nimble to harvest fruit at a whim. The resulting wines thus far seem to have lovely fruit expression, fuller palate profiles yet still balanced acidity, length and complexity that our wines are known for.

Technical Data

• Grape Variety: 87% Shiraz, 13% Grenache
• Region: Great Southern, Western Australia
• Alcohol: 12.5% by Vol | 7.4 Standard Drinks
• pH: 3.24
• Titratable Acidity: 5.7 g/L
• Residual Sugar: 0.19 g/L (Very Dry)
• Cellaring: Best enjoyed now for its fresh, vibrant character, but can be cellared for up to 2 years for further development.

Best Serving Temperature

• Ideal Serving Temperature: 8°C
• Serve chilled to enhance its fresh fruit and refreshing acidity.

Technical Wine Language Explained

• Titratable Acidity (T.A.): A measure of the total acidity in the wine, contributing to its crisp, refreshing taste.
• Residual Sugar: The natural sugar left in the wine after fermentation, which in this case is very low, making it a dry, crisp style.
• Fermentation: The process by which yeast converts the sugars in the grapes into alcohol. This wine was fermented in stainless steel to preserve its fruit freshness.