Cobaw Ridge Il Pinko Rosé 2023

When Alan and Nelly Cooper planted their first vines in 1985, they weren't just starting a winery – they were pioneers. Nestled 610 meters high in a natural amphitheatre on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Cobaw Ridge sits in one of Australia's most remarkable vineyard sites.

What makes these wines so extraordinary? It begins with their quiet devotion to listening – really listening – to what the earth and seasons wants to tell them. Fifth-generation farmer Alan and Nelly were practicing low-intervention winemaking decades before it became fashionable, achieving full biodynamic certification in 2011.

Healthy vineyards mean resilient vines requiring almost zero irrigation. High altitudes and north-facing sites provides for superb acidity and freshness in the wines. In the winery, they do the absolute minimum – just gentle crushing, pressing, and racking.

The fruit is pressed straight off skins and fermented with wild yeast before a short rest in old oak. The 2023 vintage is pale and savoury, with flavours of redcurrant, blood orange and a light, stony finish. It’s lean, refreshing and built for drinking, not overthinking.