I've mentioned before in this column that rose is now very much a year-round tipple, yet that premise may have been tested by our rather dismal summer.
A year-round proposition, yes, yet the majority of sales still tend to happen over the summer period.
I've spoken to a couple of local retailers off the record, and they report that rose sales this summer are definitely down on last year.
Thank goodness other parts of the country have been warmer and drier, letting people continue to guzzle the ever-increasing volumes of rose with abandon.
Price: $28-30
Rating: Very good to excellent
Strawberry, rose petal and toffee apple at first moving to strawberry jam and bramble with time. Creamy palate entry with strawberries and cream, juicy watermelon leading to a crisp citrus note on the close.
Mouthfilling, rich, supple and with nice complexity, developing a spice note and some warmth on the finish.
Price: $24.95
Rating: Good to very good
Perfumed nose with musk, smokers lollies and confectionery. That musky/perfumed note runs through the wine, adding summer fruits dusted with icing sugar.
Supple and rounded, some noticeable sweetness yet finishing dry, developing a zingy sweet and sour note on the close.
Price: $21.95
Rating: Very good to excellent
Fragrant with spicy touches; hints of nectarine and rockmelon/watermelon. Starts off with red berries and melon in the mouth and a sweet fruit backdrop, moving to strawberry with time.
Crisp and refreshing, good weight, depth of flavour and flow through the mouth leading to a tasty, zesty close.
Price: $25
Rating: Excellent to outstanding
Quite juicy nose, bright and lifted, peaches and cream with strawberries, developing rose petals over time. Powerful yet nicely balanced palate full of summer fruits, with lovely mouthfeel and chewiness (in a nice way).
A lipsmacking quality and an excellent finish. Delectably moreish.
Price: $26.95
Rating: Good to very good
Somewhat brooding with banana skin and red berries. Rich on the palate, a perfumed element with sweet fruit and greengage plum; that banana note continues followed by a hint of burnt sugar before a subtle yet refreshing burst of mint on the close.
A little firm at first but softens.
Price: $20
Rating: Very good to excellent
Perfumed nose with notes of musk, hay, crabapple jelly and strawberry. That musk element continues on the palate with wild strawberries. Something a little different here, a touch wild, yet it works rather nicely.
Quite fat in the mouth with nice texture and good length. Rather enjoyable.
