It's time for some blush!

Rosé wine under the microscope

May 24, 2024

Happy Friday Club Members!

Where did the sun go? Has summer gone already and we haven’t been told? Wine tasting in the garden, in glorious sunshine should be the way forward!

So this week, whilst searching for those summer vibes, I decided to change my theme for the newsletter ( it was a good one though so will send it next time). And what most people talk about as soon as the light hits our horizon? Rosé wine of course. And I had the privilege to try some recently, on a boat….

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Boat ride with a glass of rosé

Last week, Friend invited me to join him for a masterclass/tasting to try 50 different rosé wines from around the world. And the tasting started on a boat! It sounded like the most fun afternoon I planned in a while until I realised that I was not in the South of France, it was the North of England, it was raining and I had forgotten to take my umbrella. But, despite all of this, it turned out to be a very memorable tasting and the 2-hour boat ride was the highlight of the afternoon!

I must admit, I don’t usually reach for a glass of rosé. For some reason, it’s just not my thing. I never got that hype, excitement, depth or body from a rosé as I would get from white or red wine. Don’t get me wrong, I am quite partial to rosé champagne but if you ask me for my favourite pink tipple, I could only name two. And none of those are part of the usual ‘pink wine’ category. So when I got the invite for the tasting I thought it would give me a chance to learn and discover these wines a bit more and maybe I would change my mind.

I didn’t.

But I discovered some truly great wines that might tempt me to reach for a glass this summer, if it ever returns!

Rosé under the microscope - the ones to try this summer

Petit Rosé 2023 Ken Forrester

If you are a rosé lover who loves elegant and dry varieties then this should be in your fridge for the next 3 months! All the way from Stellenbosch by Ken Forrester Wines, this offers everything you are looking for in a refreshing glass on a summer night. It's an elegant blend of Merlot and Grenache with a bright, salmon-pink hue. The bouquet is full of charming notes of sweet cherries, strawberries and cotton candy with subtle undertones of dried herbs. On the palate, it's crisp and dry, filled with ripe red fruits, balanced acidity, and a seductive, long finish.

Name: Petit Rosé 2023 Ken Forrester

Origin: South Africa, Western Cape

Grape: Merlot and Grenache

ABV: 13%

Notes: Salmon pink hue in the glass with notes of sweet cherries, strawberries and cotton candy. Ripe red fruits on the palate, great acidity and a long, refreshing finish

Price: £12.85

Where: Great Wines Direct - Petit Rosé

D’Arenberg The House of Pink Sangiovese Rose 2023

The one with that little bit of extra ‘bang’! Elegant and alluring as you would expect from a Sangiovese. A lot of ripe fruit aromas on the palate, including strawberries and raspberries. But it’s those delicate floral notes, such as violet and rose petals that add a lovely aromatic complexity to the wine. A touch of citrus zest and pink grapefruit helps to bring out its freshness. A lively and well-balanced wine, with a medium-bodied texture that offers both richness and crispness.

Name: D’Arenberg The House of Pink Sangiovese Rose 2023

Origin: McLaren Vale, Australia

Grape: Sangiovese

ABV: 13%

Notes: Pale pink hue in the glass, ripe berries on the nose, including strawberries and raspberries and subtle hints of rose petals and violet. Fresh and vibrant with a touch of citrus zest. Complex, well balanced and rich with a lovely clean and lingering finish

Price: £15.70

Where: The Great Wine Co - The House of Pink

BertaRose Chiaretto, Bertani

If you ever tried Bertani’s Amarone della Valpolicella (Amarone is literally synonymous with Bertani), then you know you have to get your hand on their rosé. With over 150+ years in winemaking, Bertani winery is undoubtedly one of Italy's oldest and most esteemed wine properties. Even though the winery breathes tradition, it always strive towards innovation and to extend its portfolio.

This premium dry rosé is made with a perfect blend of Corvina, Merlot, and Sangiovese grape varieties grown in the Veneto region of Italy. A beautiful lychee-coloured wine with delicate but pronounced aromas of cherries, raspberries and pomegranate. Hints of white floral notes on the palate, alongside a touch of grapefruit and some sweet spices. It’s that body, the structure, that depth and layer which made this wine the one that stood out the most.

Name: BertaRose Chiaretto IGT Veneto 2022, Bertani

Origin: Veneto, Italy

Grape: 75% Molinara, 25% Merlot

ABV: 12%

Notes: Pronounced aromas of strawberries, raspberries and pomegranate on the nose. Hints of white flowers alongside pink grapefruit. Full-bodied yet still light, with a delicate balance between body and acidity. A truly vibrant wine

Price: £13.95

Where: The Great Wine Co - BertaRose IGT

Must have a sparkling rosé…

If there is only one sparkling wine you want to add to your list to try this year then it has to be the Signature Series Ice Cuvée Rosé NV from Peller Estates. Complexity at its best from Ontario, Canada. Made with traditional Champagne method using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier but with a twist: instead of adding sugar, here it is replaced by Canadian Icewine which truly shakes things up! The result is wonderful - it has classic, Champagne-like yeasty character, alongside nectarine, honeysuckle and fresh papaya notes. It is approachable, with the icewine balancing the acidity perfectly, and yet also a serious sparkling with complexity.