Making rosé is a little like getting dressed in the dark. Until the wine is fined, filtered and ready for bottling, one is never entirely certain of the degree of pink that has been achieved. There is even a story told of a winemaker who famously discovered a white wine in his tanks after the final filtration of wine that had been visibly pink until that point!

The 2005 Cloof Rosé has almost equal portions of Cinsaut (previously almost two-thirds of the blend), Shiraz and Pinotage, with the result that the alcohol is a little higher (13.5%, instead of 12.5%), and the flavour is richer. Whether the deeper colour of the 2005 is linked to this change is uncertain, but winemaker Christopher van Dieren has had to endure more than a little ragging from certain marketing personnel over his wine’s attempt at a pigmentary impersonation of Sparberry or Kool-Aid.

Teasing aside, the 2005 Cloof Rosé is all wine, delivering a mouthful of delicious flavour. It remains the perfect accompaniment to hot summer days or flavourful food.

The packaging has also been modified, as the colours of the dusty road picture were deemed to be clashing with the pink wine in the bottle.