Enjoy rosé

Summer would not be summer without drinking a glass of chilled rosé, though there is no reason not to drink it anytime of year. Here are three good ones to tantalise the taste buds.

Zambartas, Rosé, 2013, Akamas Laona, Cyprus, Berry Bros. & Rudd (www.bbr.com)  £14.35

Made from 85 per cent lefkada, a local grape variety that is dark in colour with a potent berry flavour and 15 per cent cabernet franc to take off any hard edges. 

This is a crisp cherry-soaked wine with zippy hints of pomegranate that is a delight to drink.

Domaine du Gros'Noré, 2014, Bandol Rosé, Berry Bros. & Rudd (www.bbr.com)  £18.95 A classic salmon-hued Bandol Rosé with a strawberry-tinged palate and a smattering of herbs and spice. With a crunch of refreshing acidity, this is a captivating wine. Rosato, Colli della Toscana Centrale, 2013, Villa Calcinaia, Greve,  Berry Bros. & Rudd (www.bbr.com) £12.95 A heady mix of red fruits and Tuscan sun that fuels memories of summer holidays in Italy. A well-balanced wine that slips down a treat. It is not too high in alcohol (13 per cent ) so perfect for Sunday lunch. By Daralyn Danns

Fizz finery

Rosé champagne is the drink associated with Valentine’s Day and romance. Beautiful to look at and oh so decadent to savour, the wonderful bubbly can turn any event into a special occasion. So whether you are sharing a bottle with your partner or simply want to toast friendship, here are some great sparklers.

Billecart-Salmon, Rosé, Brut £60, Berry Bros. & Rudd (bbr.com)
This elegant and classy pale-salmon pink rosé champagne is one of the world’s finest wines and my favourite. Mesmerising raspberry flavours tantalise your taste buds. A glass of this elixir and you are in seventh heaven. Magnifique!

Take advantage of this great promotion. Until February 15 receive a complimentary half bottle of Brut Rosé NV Champagne when you purchase one or more 75cl bottles of Billecart-Salmon non-vintage rosé, non-vintage Brut, or Blanc De Blancs from Berry Bros. & Rudd shop, London. Similar offers are available at selected retailers nationwide including Champagne Direct (champagnedirect.co.uk)

Champagne R&L Legras, Rosé, £39.95, (bbr.com)     
A complex and powerful fruity bubbly from this highly-regarded artisan champagne house.  This first-class fizz slips down so easily. Impressive!.

Champagne Deutz, Rosé, Brut, £46, (bbr.com)
Think scrumptious red fruits. Beautifully refined and rich, this outstanding rosé is full of character and should please even the most discerning palates. It is one of the go-to champagnes of those in the know.

For those looking to try something different why not take a look at a couple of English offerings? You might be surprised how good they are. Here are my recommendations.

Bolney Estate Briar Brut Rosé, West Sussex, Waitrose, £24.99 (£19.99 until February 17)
Zesty and zippy with strawberry tangs caressing your mouth. This good sparkling English wine won’t disappoint.

Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé Brut, Cornwall, Waitrose £28.99 (£24.99 until February 17)
This gorgeous creation comes from Camel Valley which is renowned for its excellent quality wines. Think mouth-watering raspberry flavours that linger long on the palette. This award-winner is a good choice for a romantic evening.

By Daralyn Danns

          

Wines for summer

This summer why not ring the changes by comparing your favourite wines from different countries? Even better, crack open a few bottles and invite friends over for a comparative wine tasting. It is a fun way of spending an evening. 

Château. de Fonscolombe Cuvée Spéciale Rosé

If you like the wonderful gooseberry flavours of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, ring the changes with Jean-Christophe Mandard’s Sauvignon de Touraine 2011 (£10.95, bbr.com) from the Loire in France.

“The mode is for making tutti-frutti touraine sauvignons to rival the Kiwis,” says David Berry Green, the Loire wine buyer for Berry Bros & Rudd. “Mandard has stuck to his roots to make this true, understated, fleshy cassis wine that stands out for its grounded authenticity. Very moreish – a mini-Sancerre – especially with summer lunches and salads.”

Being a fan of sauvignons, I was surprised how deliciously fruity and well-balanced this wine was. It goes well with fresh salmon. It is also much kinder on the pocket than a New Zealand sauvignon.

Fans of fine French red wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Crozes Hermitage made from syrah, should give an Australian shiraz a whirl. It is the same grape.

This 2009 Mt Hillary Shiraz from South Australia’s McLaren Vale, (£14.95, bbr.com,) according to the experts at Berry Bros & Rudd, proves that not all Aussie shiraz is an overpowering fruit bomb with a punch of vanilla-y  American oak. This elegant and complex wine is brimming with plums and blackberries fused with tangs of dark chocolate and a hint of liquorice.

Mirabeau Rosé 2012

On a hot, balmy summer’s evening there is nothing to beat a chilled glass of rosé. If you have been indulging in wines from the New World, then perhaps it is time to spoil yourself with one from France, after all the French produce some of the best.

One sip of Château. de Fonscolombe Cuvée Spéciale Rosé 2012 from Côteaux d’Aix en Provence,  (£9.75, bbr.com) conjures up memories of  relaxing summer evenings in the South of France. A melange of grenache, syrah and cinsault, this refreshing and delicious wine is laced with red-fruit flavours that tantalise the taste buds.

Another exquisite rosé is Mirabeau Rosé 2012 from Côtes de Provence, (£8.99, Waitrose). A zesty wine bursting with juicy strawberries, raspberries and cherries, it epitomises summer.

By Daralyn Danns