No. 1 Family Estate Rose Cuvee NV

No. 1 Family Estate Rosé Cuvée is a dry, elegant Marlborough méthode traditionnelle led by Pinot Noir, with a small portion of Chardonnay adding further finesse. Crushed strawberry and subtle cherry sit alongside almond and savoury autolysis notes, while more than 30 months on lees brings depth and a fine, silky mousse. Fresh and poised rather than sweet or overly fruity, it has enough texture for the table while remaining an excellent celebratory aperitif. No. 1 Family Estate specialises exclusively in traditional-method sparkling wine, and this polished rosé is a natural match for smoked salmon, duck rillettes or crisp tempura prawns.

What the winery says:

The non-vintage blend comprises 96% Pinot Noir and 4% Chardonnay and is made in a dry Brut style. It spends more than 30 months ageing on lees, developing subtle autolysis and almond notes around its crushed strawberry and cherry fruit. The winery describes the finished wine as fresh, youthful and elegant, with a fine, silky mousse. Made by Daniel Le Brun and Lee Dobson, it contains 12.5% alcohol and can be cellared for 3 to 5 years.

What the experts say:

Joelle Thomson, 18.5/20
“No 1 Rosé is a benchmark for méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine in Aotearoa New Zealand, thanks to the pioneering work of Daniel and Adele Le Brun whose hard mahi continues to set the standard for elegance, depth and finesse in sparkling rosé.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 95/100

Cameron Douglas MS, 94/100 and Excellent