New Bargain Rose From Aldi

RESERVE DE LA FAMILLE DROUET CABERNET FRANC ROSE

This is a new addition to Aldi's shelves and it's a beauty. It's crisp and dry with delicious fruit on the nose and palate. Palate weight is light and yet there's enough to make this a really satisfying wine.
Cabernet Franc is THE red grape of France's Loire Valley and used to make all types of styles from full flavoured reds to sparkling wines. And of course delicious roses.
Very highly recommended.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Cabernet Franc
VINTAGE: 2018
REGION: Loire Valley, France
A/V: 12%
PRICE: $7.99
FROM: Aldi
RATING: 5/5 from me

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR SUMMER - GATAO ROSE

I can't find a vintage and I have no idea what grapes are in the bottle. But it's in that wonderfully generic Portuguese Rose bottle and it won't surprise you that it has a little touch of sweetness. What makes it work though is a really subtle spritzig that elevates this way out of the ordinary. Alcohol is low and I'd consider throwing some ice cubes in to make it a serious quaffer on a hot summer's day. It has enough flavour to handle it.

GRAPE VARIETIES: ?????
A/V: 10.5%
PRICE: 2.99 euro 
FROM: Intermarche, Portugal
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

TIME FOR ANOTHER ROSE CHALLENGE?

Both these are from an extensive range we found at the stunning E.Leclerc St Vincent Tyrosse. Both are dry, both have a 4.5/5 recommendation and interestingly both are blends of three different red varieties. Their biggest difference is probably geographic coming from opposite southern corners of France. 

LARCISSE 2016 ST MONT ROSE
Never have I knowingly encountered a rose made from Tannat before. I associate that variety with huge thunderous reds - from Mclaren Vale in South Australia. For what it's worth Pinenc is also known as Fer.
GRAPE VARIETIES: Tannat, Pinenc, Cabernet Sauvignon
REGION: Saint Mont, Gascgone
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: 3.95 euro 
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 4.5/5 from me



CHATEAU SAINT HIPPOLYTE 2016 ROSE
From the renowned Provence in the south east comes this beauty. Very pale salmon colour and searingly dry. Won't be to everyone's taste but we loved it
GRAPE VARIETIES: Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault
REGION: Provence
A/V: 13.5% 
FROM: E.Leclerc
RATING: 4.5/5 from me

WHY DO THEY MAKE IT SO SWEET?

LES HAUTS BUIS 2016 CABERNET d'ANJOU ROSE


This is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire. And it could have been so good. Like the label it's a pretty little wine but sadly it is just too sweet

3.50 euro from SuperU
2.5/5 Rating from me

CHATEAU PENIN 2016 BORDEAUX ROSE

This is a dry delicate ethereal wine that just needed a little more acid zing that the palate could get hold of. Blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% merlot. 

6.9 euro from Cave L'Avant Garde Margaux
3.5/5 Rating from me

IT'S ALWAYS A GAMBLE AT CASINO

I'm sure we'll be visiting a few more of the 400+ Casino supermarkets over the next two years. One thing I've learnt is that I'll be taking a photo of each wine we buy BEFORE we take it off the shelf. That way I'll know the price and the deal I scored.

COTES OF PROVENCE 2015 ROSE 13.5% a/v

This is the complete mystery wine giving me no clue who the producer is. It's a pretty little wine with a pale blush, delicate palate and a pleasing crisp acidity. I'm pretty sure we scored a "buy one, get one free" deal in which case 2.40 Euro is a 5/5 outstanding buy. I would not want to be paying 4.8 Euro

CLUB DES SOMMELIERS 2015 AOC CORSE ROSE 12.5% a/v 4.5 Euro

While more research is required I'm starting to think that this is a Casino Own Label similar to the concept that many UK supermarket chains practice. 

This is a really classy triple red blend [one is Grenache, the others unknown and unreadable] from Corsica,  Colour is pale salmon while the palate has more weight than most rose we've encountered this year. This is a definite food wine that complemented our steamed local mussels superbly
4.5 rating from me

2016 - THE YEAR OF ROSE

In an enthusiastic effort to keep The Bride happy I have embraced and supported her search for the perfect Rose. Never before have I tasted so many in one year and never have I tasted such affordable quality. And on a couple of balmy late October afternoons in Normandy we debated the merits of these two 

Touraine Amboise 2015 Rose [Gamay and Cabernet Franc blend] 12.5% a/v 3.15 euro 

This was my pick although she found it too dry. I loved the crisp delicacy supported by a classy steely spine. 4.5 rating from me.

Moncigale 2015 Provence Rose [Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre blend] 13% a/v 3.82 euro

With a dash more sweetness this was The Bride's pick. I found it heavy and cloying on opening but this seemed to disappear after ten minutes or so. 4.0 rating from me

Both from Carrefour

THE GREAT ROSE CHALLENGE BEGINS

So on yet another visit to see what wines Majestic have on tasting, The Bride is inspired to ask "What rose would you recommend?" And that's the great thing about Majestic - everyone knows what they're talking about and £140 later we leave.

Unfortunately in a lifetime of wine retailing I was seldom asked that question but my answer was always "Are you sure that's what you want? Why don't you just put a bit of a chill on a decent red" . I struggle with the point of rose. So much of the character of red grapes is in the skin so why discard that for a pretty pink colour. They're inevitably in a clear bottle to show off this pretty pink and while they aren't made to age the clear bottle just means they teeter into aged oblivion very quickly.

To Mr Majestic's credit all these wines met the brief almost perfectly. They were crisp. lean, plenty of acid and DRY but where was the fruit. All beautifully made roses, all a little over the odds in price and all very recommendable if that's what you're looking for.

3.5/5 rating from me [probably less from TB]

Minuty 2015 Cotes de Provence £9.99

Commanderie de Peyrassol 2015 Cotes de Provence £9.99

Chateau Pigoudet 2015 La Chapelle Cotes de Provence £8.99