3 days ago
Irish Sun's wine guide with 10 fab Rosés from €7.99 including ‘extremely popular' Aldi vino & ‘easy drinker' Lidl bottle
WE are celebrating the first two weeks of summer by popping the corks on some perfect pinks.
The Irish Sun's Rosé fortnight will feature some of the best
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Matthew Nugent has shared the best summer sippers around
Credit: Getty - Contributor
This weekend we begin with ten super penny-pinching picks, from €7.99 to €15.99. All have been taste tested and given our seal of approval.
The poolside pinks we thirst for today have come a long way since the Phoenicians first sipped them some 3,600 years ago.
Those early attempts were a very distant relation, made by watering down red
Water was not the healthiest thirst quencher back then, but when combined with red wine, the alcohol killed the bacteria responsible for causing dysentery.
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The Phoenicians shipped vines across the Mediterranean from their homelands in the east to Massalia (now Marseille) and Provence in the South of France.
Provence is generally considered the birthplace of the
By the 19th century, tourists flocked to places like the Côte d'Azur in the south of France, and as evening descended, they would relax with a chilled glass of their favourite pink pleasure.
Since then, the local pink wines have become a symbol of glamour, leisure, and summer.
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All wine producing nations have their own take on this refreshing wine, but the pink tipples of Provence and the Rhône Valley continue to be world leaders, accounting for something like 35 per cent of all Rosés produced globally each year.
The wine's popularity has seen the market flooded with 'pink bath water' to satisfy the world's thirst. For the most part, we have decent and responsible importers, who bring in the best Rosés from across the world.
Shoppers rejoice as a fizzy version of Sainsbury's viral 'chicken wine' hits the shelves, and it's already being called a '10 out of 10'
The biggest misconception about Rosé wines endures – the mistaken belief that that they are just Summer sippers.
That couldn't be further from the truth. They are undoubtedly among the most food friendly wines on the planet: to pair with barbecue food on a summer evening to matching a pink with turkey on Christmas day. The latter is a growing phenomenon.
Here are our ten incredibly good Rosés for those of you on a budget.
Next week we will loosen the purse strings and spend a little more for some special bottles that still won't break the bank.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie Blush 2024 (ABV 11%)
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Currently €7.99 @ Lidl Outlets
Grape: Pinot Grigio
THIS easy drinker has a light pink colour, with an interesting copper hue when poured.
Nice aromatics of strawberry fruit, with an added floral note.
The palate is fresh, quite dry, with good structure and balance.
Soft red fruits are discernible and persistent on the finish.
Enjoy with:
Delicately flavoured pasta and rice dishes, grilled fish or even white meats.
Star rating: ***
Specially Selected Coteaux De Beziers Rosé 2023 (Jolie by Juliette)
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€7.99 @ Aldi outlets
Grape: Grenache, Syrah
THIS is a berry, berry nice and easy-drinking, off-dry Rosé, often favourably compared to similar but rather more expensive and trendy wines.
It has a delicate pink hue, and aromas of cherry and strawberry.
Light-bodied and crisp on the palate, with flavours of cranberry, strawberry, and a hint of grapefruit and pear. Good length.
Enjoy with:
Grilled tuna steak.
Star rating: ****
Pierre Jaurant Le Petit Poulet Rosé 2024 (ABV 12.5%)
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€8.99 @ Aldi outlets
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Merlot, Cinsault, Syrah, Caladoc
A light, dry and fresh wine made with a quintet of grapes, it is a dangerously enticing tipple, with citrus and summer red fruit flavours on the palate.
Never too early to sip a glass of Rosé. This is a very popular bargain bottle.
Enjoy with:
Smoked chicken salad.
Star rating: ***
Maison Chotard Rosé D'Anjou 2023 (ABV 11%)
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Currently €9.99 @ Lidl Outlets
Grapes:
Gamay, Grolleau
TRADITIONAL off-dry, bright raspberry-coloured, light Rosé from the D'Anjou in France's Loire Valley. . . my favourite place for delivering pink wines with a tad more residual sugar.
Nice aromas of gooseberry, strawberry, mint and white pepper on the nose.
The palate is bursting with red berry fruit flavours, and has nice, lively acidity. Well-balanced finish.
Enjoy with
: Fried whitebait, or fish goujons.
Star rating: ****
Domaine de L'Ostal Rosé 2024 (ABV 12.5%)
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Currently €11.96 @ O'Briens Wine
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah
THIS Rosé has been a family favourite for many vintages.
From La Livinière in the Languedoc, France, it is a 50-50 blend of Syrah and Grenache with a clear, delicate pink colour.
It has aromas of soft red summer fruits, with subtle hints of rose petals and pomegranate.
The palate is light, crisp, and fresh, with notes of raspberry, and a burst of pomegranate and Mediterranean herbs.
Enjoy with:
Delicate grilled fish.
Star rating: *****
Les Magnolias Languedoc Rosé 2024 (ABV 12.5%)
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Currently €12.71 @ O'Briens Wine
Grapes: Cinsault, Grenache & Syrah
FROM Hérault, close to Languedoc's Mediterranean coast, comes this exceptional wine as good as many high-priced wines from neighbouring Provence.
A pale pink colour, it has expressive peach and floral notes on the nose while the fresh and lively palate delivers up flavours of strawberry and raspberry fruit, with a wisp of citrus.
Enjoy with:
Grilled white meats.
Star rating: ***
Mithus Basilicata IGP Rosato 2023 (ABV 13%)
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Currently €12.99 @ Lidl Outlets
Grape: Aglianico
LIGHT bodied, thirst quenching, subtle pale pink Italian Rosé from Campania.
It has alluring red berry, floral and wild herb notes on the nose while pink grapefruit, cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavours dominate the palate of a wine with great texture and good acidity.
Pleasing length and clean finish.
Enjoy with
: Grilled white fish.
Star rating: ***
Exhib Cape de Thau Rosé 2024 (ABV 12%)
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€14.99 rrp @ good independents
Grapes: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache & Merlot
LIGHT and easy drinking rosé from the French Med region.
A pale salmon pink colour, it has intense and fresh notes of pink grapefruit, peach and citrus.
The refreshing palate is crisp and dry, with delicate notes of soft red fruits, with bright acidity and a mouthwatering, very satisfying finish.
Enjoy with:
Asian dishes
Star rating: ****
Cháteau de Caraguilhes Cara Organic Rosé 2023 (ABV 13.5%)
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Matt Nugent Wine Col -Collect /Handout mage
Credit: Matt Nugent Wine Handout
Currently €15.71 @ O'Briens Wine
Grapes: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris & Grenache Noir
ANOTHER long-time pink favourite. This is an elegant wine of substance that is superbly crafted, with delicate pale pink hue, and floral notes on the nose, along with hints of grapefruit and white peach.
The palate is nicely rounded and exceptionally smooth, where raspberries and herbs abound. Pour me another please.
Enjoy with:
Veal chops.
Star rating: ****
Delibori Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé 2023 (ABV 12%)
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€15.95 rrp @ good independents
Grapes:
Corvina Veronese, Rondinella
FROM the shores of Lake Garda, northern
Nice hit of citrus and floral notes on the nose, with an herbal hint.
The palate is delicately fresh but lively, with good acidity, red berry and lingering citrus notes. Crisp finish with a lemon twist.
Enjoy with:
Prawn salad, smoked salmon
Star rating: ****
