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The Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 is 70% Merlot and 30% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from vineyards in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island. Kim Crawford has been a wine brand since 1996 and was started in Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island.
The majority of the wines Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir for the most part) of New Zealand come from Marlborough and the South Island. Hawke’s bay is located in the southeastern corner of the North Island. It features smaller, boutique vineyards and wineries.
The Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 uses Merlot as the lead grape in the blend and I believe this is my first New Zealand Merlot wine. This is one of the rare wines that blend a red grape with a White grape. It is permitted in Australia and some regions of France.
In most cases, a small amount of a White grape that has an excellent nose and bright acidity is added to a Red wine to give the wine some “oomph”. With a Rosé where grape skin contact with the grape juice is abbreviated the difference between White and Red Grapes is lessened,
The Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 is said to have achieved its orange/pink color with very little skin contact. Kim Crawford says the grapes were all sustainably farmed, are picked in small blocks and each block is fermented separately and then blended to taste. The alcohol content is a mild 12.5%.
The Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is more amber/orange than pink. The nose is orange had candy, cherry, soft spice, melon, lemon, and lightly floral. The Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 has smooth rounded flavors.
This Rosé tastes like strawberry, lemonade, lime, a hint of tropical fruit, and a little nectarine. The mid-palate mirrors the main body of the wine but does add slightly rough-edged spice, a salty sensation, and some black cherry. The acidity beckons you to take another sip.
The Summary
The Kim Crawford Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 is a tasty well-priced, interesting Rosé.
It should be found selling between $9 and $13 and is well worth the price. A solid Rosé wine.
