Appellation Australia

Fast Facts: Country: Australia Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia Winemaker: Charles Melton Variety: Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet with a small amount of Pinot Meunier Closure: Screwcap Bought For: $18 AU

Once again Wine Blogging Wednesday is upon us and this time, the theme selected by Sam over at Becks & Posh was to “Think Pink” and try some Rosé styled wines.

This is actually the second Wine Blogging Wednesday in a row that I’ve reviewed a Rosé wine – for WBW #7, I reviwed the Rockford “Alicante Bouchet” 2004.

Charles Melton was one of the cellar doors that I visited during my trip to the Barossa last year. Apart from a bottle of Champagne exploding in my car along the extremely bumpy driveway, it was a very nice cellar door experience. This Wine Blogging Wednesday gave me the perfect excuse to open this and find out if it was worth my car smelling like oxidised Champagne for the rest of my trip!

A little bit about the wine and winery:

Charles Melton is probably best known for his wine “Nine Popes” which has for quite some time now been the most prolific Barossa Valley expression of a Rhone style blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mouvedre. During a time during the 1980s when Shiraz and Grenache were decidedly unfashionable, Charles Melton was almost a lone voice in not allowing ancient Shiraz and Grenache vines to be pulled out and replanted with more fashionable varieties. With old-vine Shiraz now being the Barossa Valleys greatest export, and Grenache making a coming, it seems that Charles efforts were very worthwhile.

The Rose of Virginia is named after Charles’s wife, Virginia Weckert.

Established: 1984
Exports to: USA, UK, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, France.
Website: http://www.charlesmeltonwines.com.au
Email: cmw@charlesmeltonwines.com.au

Tasting Note: Quite a vibrant shimmering violet-rose colour. Delicious scents of fresh strawberry, raspberries and cherry. The palate lacks a bit of complexity, although happily, there is no hint of residual sweetness with a crisp finish.

Drinking Window: Best enjoyed over the next 12 months while it is fresh.

Drink With: A great wine to take chilled on a picnic or to have with slightly spicy Asian food.

Verdict: 90 points, with a value rating of Good.

See “How to interpret my scores” for an explanation of how the above scores were reached.