The Auswine Forum

In past years this was a staple beverage for the 6 months that we in Brisbane call summer. But we dropped the baton for a couple of years, so this is my first "Rose of Virginia" for quite a while.

A vibrant pinky red, and my memory might be failing, but the the colour is stronger than I remember. The nose is hugely perfumed – I could smell it when the glass was two feet away: strawberry compote and glace cherries, lightly spiced, very inviting. The palate shows light red cherries and raspberries, some sugared roundness but with a streak of acid too. It is clean and balanced, with a bit of spice, a bit of sugar and a bit of acid, lightly and refreshingly flavoured. It finishes dryly. Impressive stuff – a beautiful Rosé – well worth a try if you see it about.

92 points

Yes, that Rose of Virginia is a wonderful wine. It is most likely the best rose made in Australia. I last tasted it at Wine Austraslia 2006 here in Sydney though I can't remember if it was the 2005 or 2006. In 2001 when my partner and I were driving around South Australia we came across a drive-through bottle shop in the McLaren Vale that had six bottles of 1998 Rose of Virginia in the refrigerator. We took a bottle back to the camp ground and had it with our supper. The wine was a delicate salmon pink and quite fragrant, however the palate was quite meaty and went very well with the food (I don't remember). I seem to remember thinking that it was likely to be a grenache based wine with cabernet or shiraz blended in. It even had sediment! Naturally we went back and bought the remaining bottles, for something under $10 a bottle. For curiosity's sake we kept a bottle and took it home to Canada where we have been meaning to drink it but somehow never got around to it. Perhaps it will end up in a 10-year retrospective with some other 1998 wines. One can only hope.......

Mahmoud.

We have the 2005 here in Canada and we received only two cases. It is harder to get than the Nine Popes!! It is without a doubt the besr rose I have ever had. Also the darkest in color, almost Pinot-like in color. Well worth the $22 Canadian.

rwatkins wrote:We have the 2005 here in Canada and we received only two cases. It is harder to get than the Nine Popes!! It is without a doubt the besr rose I have ever had. Also the darkest in color, almost Pinot-like in color. Well worth the $22 Canadian.

I haven't tried the '05, but I believe Gary W has, and he liked it too. I think the '06 will be well worth persuing when it arrives in Canada.