I promised a really cool summer wine last time, didn’t I? Well, here it is, Yering Station E.D. Pinot Noir Rosé 2005, only $15.95 at LCBO (Vintages 15545). I know I already reviewed one of the Yering Station wines, but the fact is, I can’t resist a really perfect rosé! Yering Station wine-makers are really good at their job, their cellars might look like a posh imitation of those of Château-Lafitte and their grounds like those of Château Margaux, but the wines are of their own making. Actually this extra dry (that’s what E.D. stands for by the way) rosé is easily one of the top five best rosés I have ever tasted.

This Australian rosé, with a colour of translucent red grapefruit, and a heady red fruit aroma and amazingly refreshing taste is something I fell in love with after the first sip. And besides, it drinks like water, only better, 13% alcohol notwithstanding. You don’t feel the alcohol in it at all, period. I can’t imagine why the majority of commercially available rosés tends to be sickeningly sweet and cloying, with no pronounced bouquet or flavour, when you can get such incredible finesse of taste and clean finish.

Granted, Pinot Noir is one of the most aristocratic varietals, but this only makes it harder to work with. It is a tricky vine even in the relatively cool climate of Burgundy, an area that has long been famous for its great Pinot Noir red wines, but producing such a result with Pinot Noir in Australian heat-waves is a real feat.

So what to pair this rosé with? Cheeses, poultry, cold meats: all the traditional picnic fare would be perfect. I can easily imagine myself sitting in the garden on a warm summer evening and sipping this suitably cooled rosé to my heart’s content. By the way, I find it exceedingly simple to get high on good rosé – I start floating on top of the world after a couple of glasses, so just a tip, do remember that it is something with alcohol you are drinking after all, even if it drinks like water, and especially if it does!