Whether you like your Rosé wine to look very pale, salmon or apricot-hued, pink or raspberry and even ruby, these are all legitimate and widely-accepted colours for this style.
What Rosé must have is a vibrant, floral and fruity aromatic lift, and a fresh and lively taste to force a little salivation and spread its flavours and textures across the palate.
The choice you need to make is finding a Rosé that meets your price, closure and presentation needs.
Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas has tasted some stunning Rosés to help you pick your on- or off-premise selection. Here are just a couple of his favourites…
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne
A deliciously enticing bouquet filled with scents elegance and promise, light-red berry fruits and a gentle spice overlaid with rose and mineral. The autolysis is expressive and precise adding complexity and power. Even more delicious on the palate with a fine even mousse adding its own force and mouthfeel. Flavours from the autolysis and fruit reveal a mix of baked goods, cherry and red apple. Excellent weight and richness with a lengthy complex finish. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2029.
Points: 95
RRP: $161.00
Distributor: Dhall & Nash Fine Wines
Phone: (09) 357 0493
www.dnfinewine.co.nz
Mt. Beautiful Rosé 2022, North Canterbury
A lovely salmon pink hue leads to a bouquet and palate of apricot and saffron, peach and red apple. The acid line offer contrast and crunch as well as holding a layer of mineral and gentle white spice quality. Very fine fruit tannins add in a lighter chalky mouthfeel then flavours from the bouquet remain at the core. Balanced, well made and ready to drink from day of purchase through end of summer 2026.
Points: 93
RRP: $21.50
Distributor: Negociants New Zealand
Phone: (09) 531 5222
www.mtbeautiful.co.nz
Nga Waka Rosé 2022, Martinborough
A compelling, fresh, bright and fruity bouquet, aromas of fresh cherry and salty soils, there’s a fine lees quality then peach and red apple scents. Lush, bright and fresh on the palate with flavours that mirror the bouquet. The texture is a feature of this wine with a chalky mouthfeel accentuated by acidity and fine fruit tannins. Balanced and well made with best drinking from 2022 through end of summer 2024.
Points: 93
RRP: $25.00
Distributor: Hancocks
Phone: (0800) 699 463
www.ngawaka.co.nz
To read all of Cameron’s Rosé wine reviews, click here!
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