A Mouton Cadet rosé and more Côtes de Provence rosés

The weather has been brightening up, the clocks have gone forward, and spring is in the air.
Maybe time to have a chilled white or rosé. I still have some French whites and rosés in my wine cellar. I just did not fancy them during the winter months. So looking through my stock, I find two nice looking Côtes de Provence rosés. A while back I did make some notes on another rosé that I tried, a Mouton Cadet. So this month, a review of three French rosé wines.

Mouton Cadet

You may remember the review of the red Mouton Cadet that I did February 2020. But then again, you probably don’t, so you can read it here.

I did like the Mouton Cadet red wine, so when I saw that they did a rosé, I thought that I would try one. (I did actually buy this quite a while ago).

• Mouton Cadet
• Around €7 from Auchan

Colour and Aroma: First thing I notice is that the colour is darker than the Côtes de Provence rosés. I generally prefer those paler ones. Still with pleasant and subtle floral aromas

Taste: Quite nice, with some body and bite. but maybe a bit acidic. Went well with whitebait meal

Me

Saint Victoire

• Côtes de Provence 2019
• €6.99 from Auchan

Aroma: A very nice. subtle and delicate aroma. Slight Gooseberry smells.

Taste: Very nice. Light crisp and fresh, a slight bitter kick to give it some body. I really like this.
Went well with the mackerel salad and rice supper.

Me

Coteaux D’Aix-en Provence

• Coteaux D’Aix-en Provence 2019
• €5.25 from Auchan

Aroma and taste: Again, a nice subtle aroma and a refreshing crisp light and pleasant taste. Maybe lacking a bit of bit and depth and bite.

Me

My new personal rosé rule – I really like Côtes de Provence rosés

You remember that my favourite rosé was a Côtes de Provence. You can read my review of that wine, (Château Reillanne) here. Auchan do not always have that in stock, so on one trip a while back, I bought some other Côtes de Provence.
You can tell they they are Auchan’s own brand because of the ‘Pierre Chanau’ label. And both were very good, particularly the Saint Victoire which may now overtake the Château Reillanne as my favourite rosé (not surprising as a little bit more expensive). The Coteaux D’Aix-en Provence is a bit cheaper, still very nice, light and fresh, but maybe not with the same delicate elegance as the other two Côtes de Provences . By comparison, I was a bit disappointed with the Mouton Cadet rosé.

I liked these other two Côtes de Provence so much that I have come to a decision about rosés. I will now only buy Côtes de Provence rosés. So no more reviews of any other rosés as I will not be trying any others Not only my favourite rosé, but one of my favourite of any wine. I can see myself having as much of this as white wines during the warm and sunny (hopefully) summer months.

French trip update

Finishing this months post after returning from a trip to France. Like last year, I mainly went to collect my mother after her winter in Florida, from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and drive her to the Charente. She needed some help because her house there got flooded. Then to Boulogne to start getting my house ready for summer lettings. (I already have some bookings). Hoping to get internet and TV sorted out to increase demand. A lot of hassle to get back to the UK. I had to book two of the expensive PCR tests back in the UK for day 2 and day 8 tests during my 10 day isolation period, and get a standard test done at a pharmacy in France. Hope that this will not be required by first week in July when I plan to go back.

And yes, I did get to Auchan to buy wine, only 24 bottles allowed (I think) due to … (I won’t even mention it). And I did buy 6 bottles of Côtes de Provence rosés.
I kept the receipt to put in accurate prices for these, but Mouton Cadet wine is a bit of a guess. Interesting to see that the Château Reillanne was around €8,40 in the Super U supermarket near my mothers, but now at €6.75 at Auchan.