Chapel Hill Sangiovese Rose 2019

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Being offered a wine is always a good sign of appreciation, but also tremendously complex on both sides: from the one giving it and the one receiving it.

When you think of offering a wine to someone you always need to have a serious thought about the person you are offering it and her/his specific tastes as well as her/his expectations when it concerns your personal choice of wines.

When receiving a wine, you may feel rather pressured to give some proper feedback to the person who has offered it to you.

This Chapel Hill was offered to me by a friend of mine who's a sommelier with a small note saying: I hope it will please you as I know you are not particularly fond of rosés.

Great, I thought. Now he will probably be waiting for a comment from me.

After having left the bottle for over a month looking at me, I have finally decided to open it, helping me to face the warmth wave which has invaded Hamburg.

The first aspect that has called my attention in this wine was its impressive dry taste, which has positively impressed me. In fact, this is a Rosé full of character, quite a pleasant structure and in the mouth it is rather mineral with some pleasant floral notes, giving it quite an interesting range of possibilities for food matching.

Around here, it was some Goan Vindalho, or Vindaloo, as it is known outside Goa.

And some poetry by Rabindranath Tagore to make it a perfect circle.

Come as you are, tarry not over your toilet.
If your braiding has come loose, if the parting of your hair be not straight, if the ribbons of your bodice be not fastened, do not mind.
Come as you are, tarry not over your toilet.

Come with quick steps over the grass.
If your feet are pale with the dew, if your anklets slacken, if pearls drop out of your chain, do not mind.
Come with quick steps over the grass.

Do you see the clouds wrapping the sky?
Flocks of cranes fly up from the further riverbank and fitful gusts of wind rush over the heath.
The anxious cattle run to their stalls in the village.
Do you see the clouds wrapping the sky?

In vain you light your toilet lamp; it flickers and goes out in the wind.
Surely, who would know that with lamp-black your eyelids are not touched? For your eyes are darker than rain clouds.
In vain you light your toilet lamp; it goes out.

Come as you are, tarry not over your toilet.
If the wreath is not woven, who cares? If the wrist-chain has not been tied, leave it by.
The sky is overcast with clouds; it is late.
Come as you are, tarry not over your toilet.

15,5/20
Country: Australia
Region: McLaren Vale
Grapes: Sangiovese
12,5%
Winemaker: Bryn Richards, Michael Fragos
Website: https://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/products/20429-sangiovese-rose/
Location: Hamburgo, Alemanha

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