Fukuihara Rouge pfZ 2023
Originally these grapes were going to be used for two wines: the pinot-dominant “Pinot Fan rouge” and Muscat Bailey A-dominant “Fukuihara rouge Z.” However, given the unusually warm year and dry October Muscat Bailey A achieved unprecedented ripeness, and the cuvees were combined into one wine. Hase label led this wine a “private reserve” to designate the special vintage.
Originally these grapes were going to be used for two wines: the pinot-dominant “Pinot Fan rouge” and Muscat Bailey A-dominant “Fukuihara rouge Z.” However, given the unusually warm year and dry October Muscat Bailey A achieved unprecedented ripeness, and the cuvees were combined into one wine. Hase label led this wine a “private reserve” to designate the special vintage.
Type: Deep yet low ABV dry red finished in barrel
Varieties: 55% Muscat Bailey A, 20% Pinot Noir, 15% Zweigelt, 10% Gamay
Alcohol: 11.0%
Wild yeast
Sulfur: 15 ppm at bottling
Production: 1,480 bottles
Grapes were carefully harvested and hand-sorted, 70% destemmed and cold-macerated prior to fermentation, 30% whole bunch fermented separately, prior to pressing. After pressing, fermentation continued in François Frères (80%) and Kadar (20%) barrels, then matured ~12 months before bottling. It drinks deep and velvety, but is as light and unencumbered as the 11% ABV suggests.