Rosé is the ultimate summer wine, light-hearted, charming to look at in the glass, and easy with salads and light summer food.
Rosés speak of lazy summer holiday lunches and lingering warm evenings and they should be bright, light and inexpensive - something to enjoy rather than intellectualise over.
Rosés come in shades of pink, and vary from dry to medium sweet.
They are best served lightly chilled.
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations. charmian.smith@odt.co.nz
(about $20)
Made from merlot, this is an attractive, refreshing wine with a light perfume, bright fruit, a hint of sweetness and a crisp, firm finish.
Ideal for lunch or a light evening meal.
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
(about $20)
An attractive, sweeter style of saignée rosé hinting of roses, full in the mouth with a warm finish.
Three stars (out of five)
Average value
(about $21)
An attractive, floral wine with a hint of red berries and roses, medium sweetness and just a suggestion of barrel fermentation which adds to the texture. Best chilled.
Three star (out of five)
Average value
about $28
A lively, zesty wine with hints of herbs and redcurrants and a refreshing, tingly finish.
Three stars (out of five)
about $24
A hint of stewed raspberries, with bright, fresh flavours and a tingly finish.
Three stars (out of five)
Poor value
about ($25)
The most delicious of the rosés in this tasting, with floral aromas, hints of strawberries, and silky, mouthfilling texture, beautifully balanced and charming.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
