With summer just round the corner and Geoff feeling fresh in the kitchen, it's time to start thinking about rosé wines.
The noble pinky drinky. This is still a category that wine snobs dismiss, but we're selling more and more rosé wine in the UK and, as a nation, we're embracing the style for its direct up-front approachability.
Wine-makers are spending more time and effort making interesting rosés to meet the increased demand, and there are some super ones on the market for less than a tenner. The secret is to pick a rosé that has been made using a big, bold red grape. A Cabernet Sauvignon or a blend of Grenache and Syrah would be a good place to start. You're ideally wanting a nice rich colour in the glass and a long, dry finish. I'd advise avoiding anything with 'blush' on the label as that tends to denote a lighter, sweeter style. When you get your bottle home, pop it in the fridge but don't over-chill it as you'll risk losing some of the delicate nuances of flavour. Getting a bit of air around it will also improve the wine. Here are a couple to try this weekend. Chat-en-Oeuf Rosé 2012 (Waitrose, £5.99). This is a great wee glugger from the South of France. It showcases the two local grapes, grenache and syrah which are the building blocks of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. And yes, there is a cat sitting on an egg on the label.
Mulderbosch Rosé 2012 (Inverarity One to One, £9.99). From Stellenbosch in South Africa, this has been my favourite rosé for as long as I can remember. It has great structure and a ton of character, and it's very versatile and food-friendly. If you need to be convinced to come to the pink side, this is the wine to do it.
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