Drinks of the Month

3 roses from Aldi to drink right now

3 roses from Aldi to drink right now

At the first sign of spring we all think rosé but ironically, when it comes to cheaper bottles at least, now is not the best time to buy it.

That’s because the 2020 vintage from the northern hemisphere - countries like France, Spain and Italy - is now tasting a bit tired while the new 2021 vintage has only just been bottled and hasn’t quite settled down.

That can mean you get an aroma of acetone (the solvent that is used in nail varnish remover) which disappears after a few weeks in the bottle.

Not all wines exhibit it though and there are still some 2020s around that are drinking well so here are a couple from the recent Aldi tasting that represent particularly good value for money

Aldi Specially Selected Côtes de Gascogne rosé 2021 £6.99 12%

Slightly fruitier and a touch sweeter than your average Provence rosé but still what most of us would regard as dry this clever 7 grape blend of merlot, marselan, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, tannat and colombard would make for a lovely spring aperitif.

Winemaker’s Lot Côtes de Provence rosé 2020 13% £7.49

From the 2020 vintage rather than the latest 2021 this has had some time to settle. Made from grenache, syrah and cinsault it’s bone dry and quite savoury with a really nice creamy texture I can see going really well with shellfish or fish soup. (And a couple of quid cheaper than Aldi’s Specially Selected Provence rosé though that is good too)

Diora La Belle Fête Californian Pinot Noir rosé 2020 12% £9.99 (can’t find this online so may only be in store)

I normally run a mile from Californian rosé which tends to be far too sweet for me but this much drier rosé is really rather appealing and beautifully bottled which would make it a good buy for Mother’s Day. As well as pinot noir it includes a smidge of grenache, syrah, chardonnay and malbec. Drink it with a summery spread of cold meats and salads or maybe baked or poached salmon.

3 rose and 2 red wine bargains from Waitrose

3 rose and 2 red wine bargains from Waitrose

Waitrose isn’t perhaps the first place you’d think of looking for wine bargains but at their summer tasting this week I found three rosés which you might want to snap up before the current offer ends on Tuesday June 1st.

Pierrick Harang Le Rosé de Balthazar 2020 Languedoc on offer at £5.99

I find it hard to believe there actually IS someone called Pierrick Harang but this crisp, dry rosé is pretty impressive particularly at this bargainous price. Definitely worth stocking up for the good weather we’re forecast to have next week.

La Bijou de Sophie Valrose 2020 Coteaux de Béziers on offer at £4.49 a half bottle (in 124 shops and online)

Half bottles of rosé are few and far between but ideal if you live on your own or just want to have a glass midweek with your partner. Fruitier than most Provence rosés and verging on the off-dry I’d like to drink this nice and cold.

L’Arene des Anges Costières de Nîmes 2020 on offer at £6.69

Sandwiched between the Languedoc and the Rhône - although it counts as the Rhône - Costières de Nîmes is a name to look out for on wine labels. This is a darker fruiter style than the Balthazar above - a good rosé to drink with food and even a barbecue.

Esprit de Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes 2020 on offer at £6.69

Another Costières de Nîmes bargain. A good hearty Côte du Rhône-ish red for everyday drinking. Think pub grub like sausage and chips or a steak pie.

Dominique Piron Beaujolais Villages 2018 on offer at £8.99

If you’re a Beaujolais fan you’ll love this gorgeously ripe fruity example from the excellent 2018 vintage which is as good as many Beaujolais ‘crus’

You might also want to pick up a bottle of Waitrose’s 2016 Leckford Estate Brut which is made from grapes in Waitrose’s own vineyard in Hampshire. It’s the best version of the wine I’ve tasted so far - really toasty and champagne-like and is currently on offer at £19.99 instead of the usual £26.99

Wine of the week: BX Crémant de Bordeaux

Wine of the week: BX Crémant de Bordeaux

As I've pointed out on more than one occasion pink champers is pretty pricey so if you’re looking for something a little more affordable this sparkling Bordeaux rosé I’ve just discovered in Aldi’s Spring Wine Festival should hit the spot

Bordeaux isn’t of course noted for its sparkling wine but as it’s what many people want to drink these days it’s got in on the act.

This, I imagine, is made from merlot and has a lovely fresh strawberry flavour.

Although it’s drier than prosecco it wouldn't be too dry to demolish with a white chocolate dessert or a box of milk chocolates or, as they suggest on the label, with sushi which would would definitely appeal to me.

And at £7.99 it won’t break the bank.

For my other Valentine's Day picks see my Guardian column

About FionaAbout FionaEvents and appearancesEvents and appearancesWork with meWork with me
Loading