Look out for the Food Top Wine Award stickers on these bottles at supermarkets and selected liquor retailers.
Arrogant Frog Ribet Pink Syrah Rosé 2017 ($17)
Although it has an amusing name and a fun label, this wine hailing from the South of France is a serious example of some sophisticated winemaking. It’s off dry, but there’s real depth and structure in here that will go well with Mediterranean-style cuisine.
Black Cottage Marlborough Rosé 2018 ($18)
From the excellent 2018 vintage comes this beautifully balanced and finely crafted pink wine. Not a big wine by any means, but there are some lovely berry fruit characters and some savoury touches on the palate. This is a great all-rounder at a very fair price.
Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 ($18)
From the warmer climes of Hawke’s Bay, this has more weight and texture than some of the other wines in this selection, but it also has a fair amount of residual sweetness to balance that grippy fruit. Certainly could be enjoyed on its own, but this has good food-matching potential.
Stoneleigh of Marlborough Wild Valley Wild Ferment Rosé 2018 ($18)
Salmon hue, restrained nose, some lovely curranty, cherry fruit. Nice supple texture, good concentration, relatively dry. Quite a complex, sophisticated wine that would be great at the dinner table. This is the real deal. Very good.
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 ($20)
An interesting nose, toffee apple, mixed with red fruits, savoury and woodsy at the same time. This has a reasonably firm, savoury palate. While the fruit is quite delicate and it finishes with a hint of sweetness, it would be lovely to try out various food matches with this fun rosé.
SOHO White Collection Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2018 ($24)
This aromatic, flowery wine will be popular with those who enjoy rosé as an aperitif. On the sweeter side, it has a soft, creamy mouthfeel and balanced aftertaste.
