Howard Park Miamup Rosé 2021

If we had to pick a sector of the wine industry that has improved literally leaps and bounds over the last decade or two, it would surely be a toss-up between our sparklers and our Rosés. Gone are the endless sad, broad, clumsy, sweet wines made with whatever was left. Now we have so many enthralling Rosés of exceptional quality. Clean, elegant, focused, fragrant, balanced and usually dry on the finish with length and even, if you want it, the ability to age. This is another fine example of how good Aussie Rosé can be.

A brief extraction, leaving the palest of pink salmon hues, destemmed Shiraz berries are added to the ferment to establish the colour. Natural fermentation in stainless steel and older French oak with weekly lees stirring until dry. A brief sojourn in oak and then blended and bottled with minimal fining and filtration. There is the tiniest hint of oak but it in no way intrudes, merely adds to the complexity. Notes of strawberries and rose petals with bright acidity, good length, focus plus a clean and dry finish – delicious. Bliss to drink now but you could put it aside for a few years if you wanted.