Domaine de Sainte Rose Coquille d'Oc Rosé 2011 IGP Côtes du Thongue, France
6.99
60% early-picked Grenache with 40% Syrah. Grenache vines are 50+ years old, on a high gravel-plateau, planted at a low density and enjoying 300 days of sunshine per year. Syrah is 5 years only and on lower clay/limestone soils by the river with a density of 4,500vines/ha. Grapes were machine-harvested in early to mid-August at 50 - 60hl/ha. Both red varieties picked at night to protect the juice which was treated as if it were white wine and taken off its skins immediately, ensuring the palest pink colour possible. Direct, gentle, pneumatic pressing then cold settled in stainless steel tanks for ferment with selected yeast and temperature control. No malo and matured in tank for 4 months. Bottled Jan 2012. Winemakers Charles and Ruth Simpson. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.0%, TA 3.27g/l, RS 0.6g/l. £7.29 from 06/06. Special Offer: Save £1.00, £6.99 - £5.99 from 09/05 to 29/05. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 160 branches.

Lovely, slightly strawberry, aroma. Rather lovely, fruity taste.  Strawberry aftertaste. Nice.

Celliers des Dauphins Réserve des Vignerons Syrah Rosé 2011 Vin de France
6.69
100% Syrah from vines planted on chalk and clay soils grown in the southern Rhône and the Languedoc Roussillon. Grapes were machine-harvested early in the morning from late-August and carefully sorted on arrival at the winery. Fruit was gently pressed with the must decanted off into cooling tanks. Fermentation took place at 16 - 17°C and the new wine was aged on fine lees for 2 months. Winemaker Thierry Walet. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 3.2g/l, pH 3.5, RS 7.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 249 branches.

Bitter and with unbalanced alcohol.



La Châsse Syrah Rosé 2011 Vin de France
7.49
100% Syrah, produced by Rhône-based Gabriel Meffre. The grapes were grown in the area between Montpellier, Beziers and Nimes, where the soil is a mixture of clay and limestone and the climate is Mediterranean. Grapes were machine-harvested in early-Sept. After a short maceration period, the fruit was pressed, the must was settled and fermentation took place at low temperatures between 12 - 14°C. Unoaked and fined with bentonite. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 5.47g/l, RS 2.5g/l. IWSC 2011 Bronze Medal Winner. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 270 branches.

Not a terribly fresh aroma – a little reductive.  Dry and pleasant taste.

Petit Rimauresq Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence, France
10.99
A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan created by the winemaking team at Cru Classé Provence estate, Rimauresq, partly from their own fruit and partly from vineyards contracted and run by their team. All the grapes were picked according to quality at night or in the early morning and vinified separately until the final blend was agreed. Fruit was passed through an ingenious cooling system that allows the more gentle aromas and fresh fruit quality to be captured. Vin de Presse is the only method used, no saigné method at all. Winemaker Pierre Duffort. Alc 13.0%. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 179 branches.

Peachy colour. Reductive nose. Dry and not challenging.  I want to be challenged by a £10.99 Provence rosé.

Phaedra Xynomavro Rosé 2011 Macedonia, Greece
8.99
90% Xynomavro with 10% Syrah in a dry rosé made in Amydeon in the mountainous region of Macedonia, in NW Greece. The climate here is very cool, almost continental and quite akin to Bordeaux. Vines are planted at an altitude of 570 - 750m and were harvested by hand. The winter of 2011/12 was exceptionally cold and delayed fermentation. Short skin contact, gently pressed then slow ferment in stainless steel. No malo. Bottled April 2012. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 6.7g/l, pH 3.15, RS 2.4g/l. Avilable from mid-June. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 71 branches.

Lovely raspberry nose. Dry and with a touch of raspberry.  Lovely.



Spice Trail Pinot Noir/Kékfrankos Rosé 2011 Mátra Region, Hungary
6.49
80% Pinot Noir with 20% Kékfrankos, designed to be the perfect accompaniment for spicy foods. The fruit comes from vineyards on the southern slopes of Mátra Mountain in Hungary, planted on brown forest soils with clay. Grapes were 50% hand-picked and 50% machine-harvested. Cold-soaked on skins for 10 hours at 10°C, then soft pressed and carefully fermented at 14°C in stainless steel tanks. Winemaker Benjamin Bárdos. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.0%, TA 5.6g/l, RS 5.0g/l. Available from mid-June. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 74 branches.

Lovely elephants on the label. Lovely fruity aroma. Dry, fresh and fruity. Good.

Marquesa de la Cruz Selección Especial Garnacha Rosé 2011 Campo de Borja, Spain
7.49
100% Garnacha grown in mature vineyards on the slopes of Mt. Moncayo, near Zaragoza. The grapes are sourced from Las Lomas in Ainzon, where the 50-year-old bush vines enjoy free draining, foothill slopes composed of chalk and clay soils. This area has minimal rainfall and significant diurnal temperature differences. Fruit was hand- and machine-harvested in fine conditions in early-Oct, crushed and destemmed. Fermentation took place at 16 - 20°C in stainless steel and epoxy tanks for 18 - 20 days. The wine was left in contact with the lees and is unoaked. Winemaker Norrel Robertson MW. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 14%, TA 5.65g/l, pH 3.28, RS 3.2g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 213 branches.

Dark pink colour. Very fruity – perhaps blackberries. The alcohol’s a bit hot.

Muga Rosado 2011 Rioja, Spain
9.49
60% Garnacha, 30% Viura and 10% Tempranillo. Bodegas Muga has been a family-run winery ever since its creation in 1932. The soil in the 9ha vineyard is clay/calcareous and alluvial and the vines are an average of 30 years old, planted at a density of 4,000vines/ha with a yield of 50hl/ha. After about 12 hours macerating with the grape skins, the wine fermented for 25 days at 18°C in 2,000 litre wooden vats. Stored in vats for 2 months prior to bottling. Alc 13.0%, TA 6.9g/l, pH 3.03, RS 1.8g/l. DWWA 2011 Bronze Medal Winner. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 254 branches.

Peachy colour. Neutral nose.  Nice taste. Only just slightly more tasty than a white. Good.

Viña Leyda Pinot Noir Rosé Loica Vineyard 2010 Leyda Valley, Chile
9.99
100% Pinot Noir from own vineyards planted in 1998 located in the Leyda Valley, 14km from the Pacific Ocean, cooled by maritime breezes. Grapes were hand-harvested with a yield of 5tons/ha on 30th March. Carefully sorted, leaving only the best quality fruit. After de-stemming, the grapes were carefully crushed and then cold macerated at 8°C for 8 hours in the pneumatic press with cold jackets. Loica Rosé is made only with the free run juice and the first juice obtained from low bar pressing. Fermented in stainless steel tank at a low 13°C for 12 days, then stored on lees for 5 months. Winemaker Viviana Navarrete. Alc 13.5%, TA 5.1g/l, pH 3.28, RS 2.3g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 73 branches.

Ripe and sweet nose.  Juicy and exciting fruit.  Long and bright and lovely.

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