2006 Loan Raven's Rosé Alicante Bouchet Barossa Valley Australia. 10.5% alcohol. $20 at Endless Vine, Franklin Lakes. Tanunda Creek Vineyards. Imported by The Grateful Palate, Oxnard California. 300 cases. Certified organic vineyards.
Light red color, medium hue, pretty fruit aroma with just a hint of spice, very pleasant and refreshing wine, especially fun to start the glass very cold, and let it warm up over an hour or so, then start over with the second glass. I quite enjoyed the flavor of the Alicante Bouchet -- it left an impression of great purity. Very pretty. 4*.
Notes:
The Grateful Palate claims this was the second farm to be planted with vines in the Barossa in the nineteenth century, in local parlance, Plot 2. Chris Ringland consultant.
http://www.loanwines.com.au/ Richard and Jessie Loan. Vintage Comments. Non irrigated. Alicante Bouchet is a heavy cropping variety so good, average rainfall during winter with good follow up rains late spring and a mild summer meant for a wonderful growing and ripening season. Hand Picked, Tank Fermented (free run juice only- no pressings).