Oakvale Cellar

The wine makes you smile – it’s pale cantaloupe hue, with delicate coral flecks, hints at a wine that is lightfooted and dynamic yet full of flavour surprises. Swirling the glass, the colour almost appears white, its brilliant blush catching the light. The generous aromas offer an unfolding story: a spring bouquet of orange blossom, tangerine zest, nectarine, and lime, laced with yellow plum, grapefruit, pear, and a glossy green-citrus lift. Behind this citrus medley is a gentle backdrop of red fruit – redcurrant and pomegranate – with a subtle hint of musk, the herbal snap of fennel, and the cool hush of wet riverstones.

On the palate, the wine is dry, yet a hint of perceived sweetness is coaxed out by supple texture, allowing ripe, fleshy fruit to come alive. A lively acidity threads poise through the wine, leaving a cucumber-like freshness and a saline twist that adds lift. Flavours echo the nose but with greater definition – subtle cherry alongside orange zest, watermelon, and delicate florals – all carried by just enough grip to draw a crisp, mouthwatering line.

Cool, refreshing and energetic, this rosé is sleek with well judged texture that gives both interest and staying power. It’s a style that speaks of clarity – more citrus-driven than red-fruited, it delivers an enticing and slightly unexpected edge. The finish is tangy and mouth-coating with a saline trail giving that final push in length. Delicious.

Appearance

Intensity: pale
Colour: brillant cantaloupe, light coral blush

Nose

Intensity: medium-plus
Aroma characteristics: primary driven – tangerine, orange-blossom, pear, grapefruit, a glossy green-citrus lift, yellow-fleshed fruit. As it warms up in the glass warmer tones of red fruit emmerge – redcurrent, polmegranate, young red plum, musk, fennel, wet stone

Palate

Sweetness: dry with a tangy percieved sweetness
Acidity: medium-plus. Cucumber freshness, pillowy, mouthwatering
Alc: medium
Body: medium-minus, pithy
Flavour intensity: medium plus
Flavour characteristics: Aromas from the nose translate vividly onto the palate, growing more defined and persistent in mouthfeel.
Other observations: A textural dimension adds interest and staying power. More citrus-driven than red-fruited, giving it an enticing and slightly unexpected edge.
Finish: Medium-plus finish with tangy, mouth-coating persistence.

Quality Assessment and Conclusion

A beautiful balance between aromas and flavours, delivering exactly what it promises. The interplay of fruit sweetness and acidity creates an inviting tension that holds interest. Sans oak and without extensive lees contact, the wine relies on fruit purity and freshness for length. While not especially persistent, it has sufficient staying power to engage and coat the palate, achieved through attention and detail to fruit and acidity. The breadth of aromas – including unusual citrus-leaning notes – sets it apart in the rosé category: sleek, modern, and elegant. Complexity is present without being overt; the wine carries itself with grace and clear intent.

We eat with our eyes – so picture a perfectly seared cut of fresh tuna topped with grapefruit and mint salsa. Pour a glass of Oakvale Rosé and it all clicks: the wine’s citrus core meets the brightness of the grapefruit, while fresh mint layers in a herbal edge that plays in tandem with the wine’s saline finish, sharpening the tangy lift.

Keep summer simple with Oakvale Rosé and a watermelon and feta salad scattered with basil and lime. The fruit in the wine mirrors the watermelon’s juiciness, basil brings unmistakable aromatic lift, and lime draws out its crisp, refreshing line.