This is the third different rosé wine I purchased from Majestic on the weekend, and the one that I suspected would be the best. Actually, as I was putting the bottles into my cart, a member of staff mentioned to a watching customer that this was probably the one he'd recommend as the best one there. Like I said in a previous post, they didn't have a very good selection for some reason.Anyhow, I was right and this one hits the spot. It's a deep pink colour - these types I prefer to have with food (although it's totally fine without it) - dry and refreshing. It's a bit negative, but for me what makes a good rosé is what it isn't sometimes. It lacks what I think are three things that make bad rosé: a confectionery-like flavour (like candy floss), a bitter finish, and an overtly alcoholic flavour/finish. These flaws are pretty common in rosé (especially new world like Australian), and Spain is probably my first choice if I want to avoid these (and not pay crazy prices). You are left with the dry red-fruit flavours and just enough tang to make you reach for the food platter.
Forget Shiraz for BBQs, this is more like it.
CVNE
Rioja Rosado 2008
Rioja, Spain
Majestic
£7.99 (£5.99 when you buy 2 or more)
3.5/5
CVNE
Rioja Rosado 2008
Rioja, Spain
Majestic
£7.99 (£5.99 when you buy 2 or more)
3.5/5
Posts
You're going up each time - maybe you'll hit a five soon.
ReplyDeleteMust say I'm not a rosé fan but I do remember enjoying a (lot of) Bandol in a company hotel outside of Nice. I also remember thinking must not buy any as it won't be the same back home.
Marc,
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to try Bandol (both red and rosé) but have never got around to it. I love rosé in the summer, nothing beats it in hot weather (except maybe a good dry English cider like Aspall)...
Not much Bandol around here - reds, which are also good, seem to start at about £12.50 here and there are a few to choose from. Rosé is scarce - Majestic has one at a cool £23...
ReplyDeleteMarc,
ReplyDeleteActually I lie - I have tried Bandol rosé, and it may have been that one from Majestic. A friend of mine brought over a half-bottle if it. I'm not sure it was the exact same as the one at Majestic, but it was a Domaines Ott, and it was a Bandol.
We have wanted to try Domaines Ott for ages - it's the Rolls Royce of rosé supposedly. When we drank it I was running around like a madman trying to cook dinner and entertain, etc, so I didn't really get a chance to enjoy it properly, hence no blog post. However I do remember it being very complex weighty..not a typical rosé at all.
Speaking of Majestic I just placed an order with them - a bunch of whites and rosés, quite a few of which I've never tried before. It's being delivered tomorrow.
Well Tim while the heat is on I think this is the time to drink southern European wines. I was in Italy last week on business (Tuscany) and had some superb Chianti (chosen by the people I had dinner with). This was after the only successful England game and along with some beers and grappa I don't remember much else after that.
ReplyDeleteI think Majestic is a good store. The best case I ever had was one Christmas at the Highbury store when the chief wine buyer happened to be there. He took me round and picked for me - and not surprisingly he said some of the cheaper ones were better so it wasn't too costly.