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Stumbling across a wine with a major point of difference is a joy to behold, akin to finding out your nest egg investment company has not rolled onto its back. "Have you tried our Madame Rouge?" asked Cat Vosper, co-owner of the quaint, rustic 4ha Miro Vineyard and restaurant on Waiheke Island.
Between mouthfuls of stunning European style tapas and a beautiful Miro rose, the answer was no. Brought to our table in an instant was a beguiling bottle containing a dark mulberry, almost molasses, coloured liquid. Madame Rouge, as you would expect, is all about attitude and that va-va-voom quality that usually encapsulates French flamboyance. It's a unique, fortified aperitif-style wine with a substantial alcohol level of 18.5 per cent.
Fear not, its versatility and vibrant freshness mean it can straddle being an aperitif or, if required, a dessert wine, and could easily morph into a digestif. Winemaker (and GP) Barnett Bond reckons you can stretch it out with ice, soda, lemon and mint as a summertime sipper, or even use it as a base for the royale style of cocktails.
Based on an ancient French winemaking process and made from selected red grapes, it is completely natural. There are two versions of the exotic Madame - the original recipe, distinguished by its red neck label, and the new luxe version with a blue neck label.
The latter has more intense cassis and dried cherry flavours, more extract, and, according to the good doctor, more structure and powerful antioxidants. Essentially it's a supercharged version of the original. Being a fortified wine it has a long shelf life and will age gracefully in the fridge.
When finished, the bottle is ideal to use for table water. Love the line on the back label: "Madame Rouge - a casual liaison."
Recommended
Miro Vineyard Madame Rouge
Versatile fortified red wine. Serve chilled or neat. Ideal to accompany aged hard cheeses and dried fruits.
Price: $58 (original), $65 (luxe)
Miro Vineyard Rose 2008
Made from 100 per cent merlot grapes. With a low alcohol level (11.5 per cent), it tends toward dry with cherry, violet and floral undertones. Refreshing. Price: $22
