Hillinger Hill Brut Rosé Reserve 2020

Leo Hillinger works from Jois in Burgenland, and this HILL Brut Rosé Reserve is a step up from the house's tank-method Seccos, made by the traditional bottle fermentation method used for Champagne. The wine is a single-vintage bottling built entirely from organically grown Pinot Noir, certified under AT-BIO-301. After the base wine is made, liqueur de tirage sets off the second fermentation in bottle, and the wine then rests on its lees for three years before disgorging. That long lees contact is what gives the fine, persistent bead and the deeper, gently toasty complexity, while the dosage is set to a dry Brut and the wine can hold for up to a decade.

The colour is a light, delicate pink with a peach-toned core and a fine, sparkling bead. The nose brings fruity, floral aromas with ripe stone fruit and bright red berries, backed by a light toasty note from the lees. The palate follows, the red fruit lifted by fresh, invigorating acidity to a precise finish. Serve well chilled at 6 to 8 degrees. It works as an aperitif and suits beef tartare, white meat such as veal or poultry, and fine fish dishes.