While my wife was shopping for cheeses for tonight’s dinner, I sidled over to the wine section of Nick’s Wine Corner in Sam’s Italian Deli in Central Fresno. While she spent minutes searching for a Ricotta Salata and hand packed Ricotta cheese, I had precious moments to determine which Rosé would end up with me in the pool later in the afternoon.

Surprise, surprise. While I did not know its accolades, I purchased a Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2012 because wine director D’Arcy Barrett insisted it would fit my taste profile. Case in point. Get to know what you like and share it with someone at your local wine store. She will be a wealth of knowledge to help you through an ever expanding maze or wall of wine.

Mulderbosch Vineyards hail from South Africa and winemaker Adam Mason is beginning to create quite a stir with both the 2011 and 2012 pinks. Mason previously worked at cult #wine leader Screaming Eagle and has teamed up with Andy Erikson, formerly of Screaming Eagle fame as well, to create a wonderful, medium body dry Rosé that works well with lighter fair but will hold up even with wood-fired pizza, grilled salmon or tuna or steak salad.

Mulderbosch Rosé aromas start with fresh red berries and a strawberry hue. Yet the berry fruit flavor turns toward blood-orange then lingers, finally giving way to pomegranate, black currant and a hint of nutmeg. The wine’s acidity is balanced and seems juicy but not sweet, dry and soft in the mouth and a satisfying minerality found in higher quality Rosés.

According to the Mulderbosch website, the Cabernet grapes are grown and selected to be processed as Rosé. This is not an afterthought wine. The grapes are thick-skinned and picked early to secure high levels of acidity and bright flavors in the wine. The Rosé is then bottled earlier than what might be expected to capture the fresh flavors.

Founded in 1989, Mulderbosch quickly became known for their racy Sauvignon Blanc. Since then they craft an award-winning range of wines that consistently earn top ratings and Wine Spectator “Smart Buy” and “Outstanding Value” accolades. The winemaking team is committed to creating wines that have outstanding value but “to conserve its unique natural heritage, landscape and natural biodiversity by implementing environmentally responsible management practices on the land and in the cellar.” (Michael Oliver, food and wine writer, published author and broadcaster).

For all of the #TeamRosé drinkers out there, the Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2012 should be on your radar each summer. This pink is a wonderful, low alcohol (12.5%) value wine and best buy that will linger in my cooler until next season (buy a case!) A wine to drink at pool’s edge, with seafood steaks or pizza, this South African Rosé is versatile that will keep you eyeing the last third of the bottle for yourself. Let me know what you think!

Besides buying the Rosé at Nick’s Wine Corner, click Wine-Searcher-Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé to find out where you can purchase this best buy South African wine. Retail $8-10.

For more information on Mulderbosch, visit them online at http://www.mulderbosch.co.za. They can also be reached via email: email tastingroom@mulderbosch.co.za

If you missed my last post on a central California coast Rosé, be sure to check out Branding Le P’tit Paysan as a fresh, friendly Rosé.

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