We have been enjoying some fantastic long hot summer days in Marlborough lately, and one of my favourite ways to soak up the late afternoon sun is with a well chilled glass of Rosé.
It may not seem as masculine as downing a beer (I’ve been doing a fair bit of that too), but I’m not afraid to be seen in pink, whether it’s a ‘salmon’ coloured shirt or a rose tinted wine.
Gertrude Stein may have decreed that a “rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” but in the case of Rosé appearances can be deceiving.
Sure, there are some sweet Rosés on the market which taste like they’ve been laced with confectionary, but the finest examples such as the beautiful blush wines from the Rhône are off dry and complex, elegantly delivering fresh berry fruits, spice, savoury nuances and minerality.
Rosé has enjoyed a long romance with Provence in the South of France, but the New World has been slow in embracing it; the love affair only evolving in the last decade.
I felt that Marlborough’s Pinot Noir would be perfectly suited to the production of outstanding Rosés, and so too did Adrian and Jo of Four Hawk Day who I make wine for - so much so that they grow Pinot Noir solely for the production of Rosé.
The result, according to MW Bob Campbell: “Pale pink Rosé with very seductive scents of wild strawberries and violets. An ethereal texture leads to a lingering finish. Seamless wine made with a very light touch. 93/100, 5 Stars.”
And I’m tickled pink (too many puns?) that the wine judges have enjoyed it as much as I do, awarding it with a Pure Silver medal at the 2013 Air New Zealand Wine Awards and Top Wine in Taste Magazine’s Rosé competition.
Fifty Shades of Grey is so passé – this summer is all about Fifty Shades of Pink.