Foncaussade Les Parcelles
Rosé Bergerac 2010/11
Waitrose £5.99 (offer, until 24 July)

Bergerac, in South-West France, inland from Bordeaux, straddles the river Dordogne. It’s Red and Rosé wines are made from the same main grapes as in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot usually, as in this bottle. The soil and the climate differs somewhat from Bordeaux, and it was often seen as a rather rough country cousin of that great region. Sophisticated growing, harvesting and wine-making (here, cool fermented) in recent years now produces some excellent wines. “Parcelles” means that the grapes are drawn from several separate plots of land.
In the glass, the colour is ripe strawberry, and that berry fruit will be encountered throughout: first, on the nose. Held in a light body, on the palate, first the strawberries, then an interesting complexity emerges. A good crisp dryness comes out, a combination that makes this a splendid summer drink. The finish is good, with an echoing glow around the mouth lingering for a little after. Alcohol by Vol. is 12.5%. Suitable for vegetarians. Screw-capped, an ideal choice for a picnic, as it is a versatile companion to cold food, though it will match well with sauced pasta.

Graham Gendall Norton