'Esi' 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé

Sherbet, oak and fresh herbaceous.

Esi is a truly distinctive wine full of character and charm. A Cabernet Sauvignon, but not in the way you’d expect. Instead of the usual bold tannins and deep, dark flavours, she’s bright and sherbet-like, with aromas of nectarine and rhubarb. Her time in old French oak gives a subtle, elegant hint of wood, adding to her complexity and texture.

Being English, she naturally carries a livelier acidity, along with a gentle herbaceous note that keeps things fresh and intriguing. 

How it is made

Watch a short film on the making of ‘Esi’ by Victor Frankowski.

The grapes for Esi were grown in Herefordshire under polytunnels by a vineyard that’s leading the way in innovation—perfect partners for us. Cabernet Sauvignon is almost never grown in the UK because it rarely ripens enough for still wine, but with careful vine management and protection under cover, it’s just possible to get the fruit where it needs to be.

We hand-harvested the grapes and brought them straight to London, aiming to make a white Cab Sav. But once we whole-bunch pressed them, the juice carried more colour than expected. Rather than filter it to force a white wine, we kept it natural—if it’s pink, it’s pink. The wine was fermented in stainless steel, aged in old French oak, and bottled as is.

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in Herefordshire, UK.

Meet Esi
Esi (28) is a cupcake, cake, confectionary artist who was based in East London back in 2022 and now living in Manchester.

Note: This wine, like all our wines, is made in London and vegan friendly.