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WINE OF THE WEEK: Rogers & Rufus Rosé 2022, Barossa, Australia

£13.95–£16.99, Alexander Hadleigh, Drinks Direct, Latitude Wine & Liquor, Vin Neuf, Australian Wines Online, Fine Wine Direct, North & South Wines, Iconic Wines

A bottle of pale dry Australian rosé wine

Choosing a single rosé to highlight ahead of this summer's (slightly late) round-up of rosés was difficult – not least because just when I was beginning to wonder if I might be getting a bit jaded with Provence rosés, I tasted some crackers.


But I finally settled on this Barossa Grenache rosé because, although it's not new (Rufus & Rogers dates from 2007), it's new to me and it defies any lingering outdated stereotypes of Australian wine.


It's pale, light bodied – only 11.5% abv – and yet expressive, with bitter cherry and rose on the nose and a bone dry, appealingly supple palate fused with refreshing tart red berry fruit and a lightly salty, citrus-peel finish.


Deliciously easy to drink as it is (gouleyant as the French say), a lot of effort has gone into it. The grapes are hand-picked from bush vines in the northern Barossa, held in the press for two hours to produce the delicate colour then pressed directly to barrel (older Hungarian and French hogsheads). Fermentation is with wild yeasts and the wine is aged on lees, with bâtonnage, for 9 months.


The people behind it are the head of the famous family-owned Yalumba winery, Robert Hill-Smith, and British gastropub pioneer and entrepreneur Rupert Clevely.


I have no idea why they've called themselves Rogers and Rufus but I can advise when to drink their wine – and that's almost any time. If you want to take it to the table, keep the food light, fresh and unfussy: simple fish, salads, prosciutto, whipped hummus – that sort of thing. 11.5%. Empty bottle weight: 767g


Rogers & Rufus Rosé Grenache of Barossa 2022, Australia



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Website © 2019 Joanna Simon

Header photo © Waitrose & Partners Drinks / Cat Garcia

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