Description
2024 Solms-Delta Lekkerwijn Rosé
Made from 100% Mourvèdre, a variety often associated with power and brooding depth, the winemaking team has instead coaxed out its more delicate side. The fruit was sourced from granitic vineyards in Paarl, where the well-drained soils and moderate elevation temper the summer heat, allowing for gradual phenolic development. Picked early—at just the right moment to capture both fruit generosity and brisk natural acidity—the grapes were then whole-bunch pressed, a technique that limits colour extraction and phenolic weight, yielding a rosé of ethereal hue and remarkable finesse.
Fermentation took place in stainless steel at low temperatures, a classic method to preserve aromatics and precision. Crucially, the wine was fermented to dryness—a nod to serious rosé drinkers and a clear stylistic choice that foregrounds the terroir over sugar. Post-fermentation, the wine spent four months ageing on fine lees, a quiet act of craftsmanship that imparts a subtle creaminess and depth without overshadowing the wine’s inherent vibrancy. A gentle bentonite fining and light filtration were all that followed before bottling.
In the glass, the 2024 Lekkerwijn Rosé is pale salmon-pink, almost Provençal in tone. Aromatically, it leans toward wild strawberries, pink grapefruit, and a dusting of dried herbs, underpinned by a whisper of crushed stone. The palate is sleek and linear, with a mouthwatering tension between red berry fruit and taut acidity. There’s a cool, almost saline minerality that threads through the finish, lending the wine both persistence and refreshment. It is as comfortable poolside as it is paired with a plate of Cape seafood or Mediterranean fare.
Solms-Delta, long known for its deep cultural roots and historical vineyards, is reasserting itself not just as a custodian of the past but as a producer of forward-thinking, terroir-reflective wines. The 2024 Lekkerwijn Rosé is a statement of intent—a wine of precision, place, and purpose.
