Esk Valley, Rosé, 2020, New Zealand
This is one of the best rose wines I have tasted this year and best of all its under £10 a bottle. Its dry, light with good length and decent flavours of strawberries and redcurrant.
It’s the perfect summer rose that you can drink without a hefty price tag.
The King’s Desire, Pinot Noir Rose, 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand
New Zealand Pinot Noir has a very good reputation, but things are changing and cheaper wines, especially pinot noir from New Zealand, are starting to come on the market. This is good if the quality can keep up with the lower price but I think this is an example where it’s slid in the wrong direction.
Its dry and crisp. You get aromas and flavours of raspberry and redcurrant but it’s a little bit on a flat side and a bit one dimensional. Normally New Zealand Pinot Noir has been at a much higher standard. At £13 a bottle, for a single bottle at majestic, its way over priced but at £8 bottle mix it’s fair value it’s hard to fault it at that price.
From Marlborough in New Zealand this is an easy drinking dry, fruit driven Pinot Noir rose wine. You get the usual aromas of strawberry and redcurrant and those follows on in the taste. You also get hints of peach and a clean mineral taste.
There’s more flavour that a French Provence rose wine but at £14 a bottle it’s a little bit pricey, very nice but too much for rose. Straight Pinot Noir from New Zealand is only a few pounds more and you get a wine that generally out classes much of the European Pinot Noir reds.
Spy Valley – Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 from New Zealand