Ghost Rock Estate Zoe Brut Rose 2023

Variety: 56 % Pinot Noir, 44 % Chardonnay
Country, Region: Australia, Tasmania

56 % Pinot Noir, 44 % Chardonnay, both components sourced from the Bonadale vineyard. Hand picked and whole-bunch pressed. Fermented in a mix of stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barriques, the base wine is then matured on lees for 12 months. Secondary ferment in bottle followed by a further 12 months on lees in bottle prior to disgorgement.
12.2 % Alc/Vol; 9.0 g/l RS; 3.26 pH; 6.8 g/L TA.

’Rose gold. Bright and inviting, the nose opens with aromas of fresh cream, ripe strawberry, and golden delicious apple. There's a gentle autolytic character from the year on lees— subtle, creamy, and well-integrated—adding softness to the crisp fruit profile. The Pinot Noir brings red-fruited charm, while Chardonnay contributes freshness. A delicate touch of sweetness rounds the edges, yet remains almost imperceptible— just enough to knit the elements together. A vibrant acid line drives the palate, keeping everything fresh and buoyant. The structure is balanced and seamless, making this a sparkling that’s both refined and highly drinkable.’ Justin Arnold, Winemaker.

'In ‘01, Cate and Colin Arnold purchased the former Patrick Creek Vineyard planted exclusively to pinot noir in 1989. The vineyards, situated among the patchwork fields of Sassafras to the south and the white sands of the Port Sorell Peninsula to the north, now total 30ha: pinot noir (14 clones) remains the bedrock of the plantings, with other varieties including chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc. Ownership has passed to son Justin and his wife Alicia (who runs the cooking school and cellar door). Justin’s experience in the Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills), Margaret River (Devil’s Lair) and Napa Valley (Etude) has paid dividends – the business is going from strength to strength, and the capacity of the 100t winery has been tripled. Exports to Japan.' James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion.

Established in 1999, Ghost Rock came to life when Colin and Cate Arnold purchased the Patrick's Creek vineyard (planted in 1989) at Northdown, just outside Devonport in Northern Tasmania. Here, just a few minutes from where the Spirit of Tasmania ferry docks and but an hour's drive from Cradle Mountain, the vineyards enjoy a maritime climate overlooking Bass Strait, producing immaculately ripened fruit of particular freshness and complexity.

Over the ensuing 20-odd years the Arnold family would continue planting out additional vineyards, substantially with Pinot Noir (and a good dozen different clones at that!), but also with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a little Sauvignon Blanc. And before they knew it, they had almost single-handedly created the wine region now dubbed Tasmania's Cradle Coast.

In 2017 Colin and Cate's son Justin and his wife Alicia Peardon took over the business and have continued to turn out new and exciting wines, earning 5-star recognition from the Halliday Wine Companion, amongst many other accolades. Justin takes care of the winemaking, having honed his skills at Coldstream Hills, Devil's Lair and at Etude in California's Carneros Creek, whilst Alicia manages the Cellar Door and Eatery.

Today the wines fall into three ranges: the Estate and Single Vineyard wines are self-explanatory, whilst the Supernatural wines make up Ghost Rock's 'Lo-Fi' range. Or as Justin has put it,

'Creativity and deliciousness rule the roost within this portfolio, bound to one rule only; high quality, estate-grown fruit as the source component. The rest is in the imagination and the craft. The range follows a ‘LoFi’ mantra of being wild ferment driven and exclusively unfined/unfiltered/low SO2.'