2016 Sud de Frank Rosé

Sud de Frank Rosé is a partnership between Jared Dixon of Jillywineco in Clunes, the Byron Bay hinterland which actually has a wine zone, the Northern Rivers, and Dan Graham of Sigurd Wines in the Barossa. Dixon and Graham met in winemaking at university. Sud de Frank is the latest avatar of both Dixon and Graham whose other sobriquets are Jilly, White Wolf of Cumbria, FIFO, Lone Ranger, Big Cats, and Sigurd. It’s hard to keep up. So this is a joking-title (?) of a wine, seemingly French, with the label and cap cutely representing the French flag colours. (I love it, too, because my father was Frank and frank.) It is a gorgeous traditional Rosé, of bronze/salmon in colour, rich strawberries and cream in perfume, and gobsmackingly dry on the palate. To drink, to drink, to drink. What I don’t like is the absence of year, grape variety and regions on the label. And this could do with the winemakers’ names too.

 

Long Point Vineyard Lake Cathie Midnight Rosé

Long Point Vineyard Lake Cathie Midnight Rosé, from winemaker Graeme Davies, is red-ruby velvet in colour, with a perfume of toasted waffles, maple syrup and some rose. The palate is honey-ant. While light at the end, it has good middle depth and texture. The label is v-shaped to establish symbolically that long point, with a logo of L and P cleverly coupled. 

2016 Jilly The White Wolf of Cumbria New England Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer Rosé

The 2016 Jillywineco The White Wolf of Cumbria New England Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer Rosé (although not named as such on the label) is sharp on the palate, with citrus, grass and straw. It’s a bright but watery blood colour, with aromas of honey, vanilla and marmalade.