Wednesday, August 04, 2010

English Rosé.

Thud always turns up in California with a little something of interest in the wine department. This visit is no exception. Denbies 2007 Rose Hill rosé is an ever so slightly sweet, deeply salmon-hued still wine which is a blend of Pinot noir and Dornfelder. Dornfelder? Yes, Dornfelder - a cross between Helfsteiner and Heroldrebe, two German grape varieties which, in turn, are themselves crosses. A very nice tipple.
I have had Denbies wines before, namely their Juniper Hill, and have always found them to be very pleasant. The Juniper Hill is a rather aromatic still white wine that is vinted from Bacchus and Schnöburger grapes. Bacchus? Schnöburger? Yes, Bacchus - a Silvaner and Reisling hybrid which is then crossed with Müller-Thurgau. As for the Schönburger...you can look that one up for yourself!
It is heartening to me that there are now some quality wines emanating from the Mother Country, albeit reliant on Teutonic inventiveness, with the introduction of newer, cool-climate hybrids.
All in all, the Rose Hill is a very agreeable mongrel of a wine.

4 comments:

Thomas said...

Imagine the possibilities had the Roman Empire held on for 100 more years...

Thud said...

Thomas..we Brits would have had indoor toilets 1500 hundred years earlier! VG...the thudmonkey vintages of future years will be epic in their breadth and depth.

Vinogirl said...

Thomas: ...but the Dark Ages and the Little Ice Age came along.

Thud: Can't wait.

Thud said...

you heretic...don't mention the little ice age.