Why not take Australian rosé seriously? Rob Mann at Swinney surely does, delivering here what is an involving and complex drink that goes beyond just simple pink juice. It all starts in the old Powderbark Vineyard in Frankland River Mourvèdre, Cinsault and the white grape Vermentino were harvested and co-fermented together. Stir in some ageing in old oak and minimal handling, and you end up with a beautiful, gently textural, and utterly delicious dry, pale rosé of real swagger.

In a very short few years, Swinney has gone from zero to hero, driven by what is now a legendary vineyard in WA's Frankland River. The Swinney family have been farming this land for a century and only decided to dip their toes into viticulture in 1998. Unconventionally, while classic varieties such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling were planted, the family also embraced Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo (unheard of in southern WA) and an emphasis on old-world style bush vine trellising. With equally celebrated winemaker Robert Mann in the winery, this is a label delivering some of the country's greatest wine hits. Again, it all comes down to vines, though, and the fascinating Swinney plot has become so famous that it was crowned 'Vineyard of the Year' in 2020. Famous vines making famous wines!