100% Pinotage rosé from Western Cape, South Africa.
Sample submitted for review. SRP of $10 and available for around $9.
From the winemaker:
"TASTES LIKE: a crushed summer berry smoothie with mouthwatering red cherry and Turkish delight tones beautifully balanced to a succulent fruity finish.
GOES WITH: an ice bucket and a smile anytime with or without smoked salmon pasta, sticky ribs or BBQ beef and chicken burgers.
12.0% Alcohol"
Today's wine is made from the Pinotage grape, a signature South African variety that we discussed in our Franschhoek Cellar Stone Bridge review. Many feel that this hybrid cross between the Pinot Noir and Hermitage grapes is, shall we say, an acquired taste. Making a rosé with this grape is really a wonderful idea as you can avoid the high tannins usually associated with it since the wine does not spend much time in contact with the grape skins.
Today's rosé wine also has a nice pedigree in that it is from The Beach House line by Douglas Green, a line which includes a Red and a White wine we've recommended highly in the past. Both are just fabulous summer wines at a great price, as is today's rosé as it turns out.
The 2011 Douglas Green The Beach House Rosé begins with lots of bright, fresh berry aromas. The wine tastes dry, slightly sweet and delicious. This is a fruit forward wine with crisp and clean berry flavors. The finish has just a hint of spice and then the fresh berry flavors last for really long time. You really can't help but take another drink. Pinotage can be polarizing, but this is certainly one example that everyone can get into. A very refreshing wine -- be careful or the bottle will be gone in no time. If I had tasted this one in time I would have included it in my Five Favorites - Refreshing Rosé article, it's that good!
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 8.0
