Personally, I’m a fan of Indian summers, with milder weather continuing into May, eking the last vestiges of warmth out of ever-shortening days before the inevitable onset of winter.
Perhaps a rose, exuding summer sun in a glass, might fit the bill?
2019 Astrolabe
Comelybank Vineyard
Price: $25
Rating: Very good to excellent
Bubble gum, strawberries and icing sugar, subtle fragrance. A creamy yet quite delicate palate revealing beeswax, fruit pith, strawberry and wet stone characters, flowing to a long, long, dry minerally finish, with a refreshing saline influence adding freshness. Not your run-of-the-mill-style and an excellent food choice.
2019 Tohu
Nelson
Price: $19.75
Rating: Very good
Fuchsia pink. A whisper of toffee apple and green herb melded with mixed berries, dried strawberry with time. The palate adds strawberry and musk notes with hints of fruit cordial. Fruit sweetness on the front palate yet finishes relatively dry. Fresh acidity and a little bittersweet almond counterpoint bring things to a tasty close.
2019 Hawkshead
Rose
Price: $28.99
Rating: Very good to excellent
Alluring nose with red berries, spice, dried herbs and a smoky nuance. The palate leads with fruit jubes & candied fruits, evolving to red fruits with hints of watermelon. Creamily rich entry, sweetly fruited, yet the spice tinged close is relatively dry. This builds in weight over time, yet remaining refreshing and crisp.
2019 Te Kano
Central Otago
Price: $27
Rating: Excellent
The nose hits a deeper register, mixed fruits and apple skin at first, watermelon and grapefruit with time, building in perfume. The rich palate offers red fruits, dried strawberry, fruit cordial and an appealing savoury element. Fruit sweetness flows through to the close, neatly balanced by a tangy, citrusy note which keeps this just off-dry.
2019 Madam Sass
Central Otago
Price: $24.99
Rating: Excellent
Perfumed nose of mixed berries, red apple, nectarine and spice. There’s a refreshing fruit sherbet like prickle to the palate, the apple and nectarine notes lifted by a whisper of sweetness, yet delightful freshness and zing too that leaves you salivating. Juicy, with lovely depth of flavour with a finish that lingers on the palate.
Maori Point
Naturally Sparkling Rose
Price: $10.95 (330ml)
Rating: Very good
A refreshing tangy note on the nose draws you in, strawberry with a little saline hint. Apple and berryfruits, some peach too, a touch of sweetness with a soft mousse. This isn’t trying to be serious, but hits all the right buttons for sheer drinkability. A perfect size to share at a sun filled lunchtime.
