WINE: RAVISHING ROSÉS: Domaine des Anges Rosé Côtes du Ventoux 2003, Château Haut-Rian Bordeaux Rosé 2003.
At last everybody is rushing out to buy rosé - inspired partly by Mediterranean holidays involving gallons of the stuff, and partly by all the warm weather we've had. Few wine styles suit the sunshine and outdoor eating better, but be careful. The 2003 vintage, now in the shops, was so searingly hot in many parts of Europe that many of the wines lack the acidity that makes rosé so refreshing - so you have to shop carefully. Here are two which perform brilliantly:
Domaine des Anges Rosé Côtes du Ventoux 2003. From a provençal property with an Irish owner, Gay McGuinness, and an Irish winemaker, Ciaran Rooney, this is one of those tempting rosés that you just keep sipping until - surely not already - the bottle is empty. Made from Cinsault and Grenache, it's a pretty salmon pink with aromas of peaches, strawberries and herbs and lovely juicy, moreish flavours. One of the summer's most outstanding bargains so far. From O'Briens, on special promotional price of €7.99 for July.
Château Haut-Rian Bordeaux Rosé 2003. Smelling of tomato plants, this star contender from Bordeaux makes me long for a big tomato salad in the garden. Made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a deliciously zesty wine - a little crisper than its provençal cousin, so better with light food than by itself. A very elegant, keenly priced rosé from a property whose zippy white wine has been a runaway success here for years. From Wines Direct, €10.15; minimum purchase six bottles (which may be mixed).