2020 GARDEN VINEYARDS ROSÉ, DeMorgenzon. South Africa

Stellenbosch has long been the Cape’s premium wine region. Now challenged by warm climate Swartland and cool climate coastal regions like Elgin, it can still produce top quality bottles and is perhaps working ever harder to do so.

41% Syrah, 22% Grenache Noir, 18% Mourvèdre, 16% Cinsault and 3% Viognier; all given 2/3 hours of skin contact (to extract colour) before being fermented cool, like a white wine.

De Morgenzon means ‘morning sun’; it is owned by the Applebaum family and has achieved huge recognition for its wines in the last 10 years. Winemaker is the talented Carl van der Merwe.

Not as pale as the lights of Provence styles, but still very much a dry, fresh, modern example. This is beautifully packaged and very impressive for its modest price.

4* in the John Platter Guide.