The Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2020 is a $9.99 Aldi exclusive from the south of France. This is the 2020 release of a Rosé that is a cult wine in Europe. It has won awards as the best value-priced wine and typically sells out in days. This Rosé was finally made available in the US and sold out in a couple of days.
The 2016 vintage sold for $7.99, the new vintage is 2 bucks more expensive, but prices have been going up lately. The Rosé craze is starting to die down, every wine producer released a Rosé wine. It is no longer the next big thing, so the Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2020 should last on the Aldi shelves for a while longer this time around.
The Cotes de Provence is the largest AOC in Provence accounting for 75% of the wine. There are 36 grape varieties allowed in Provence, but the most commonly used are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, and Cinsault. Aldi does not specify which grapes were used in the blend.
Aldi is THE place for value-priced wine in Europe and has excellent relationships with top producers. The buzz on the Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2020 is that it is a $10 Rosé that in a blind tasting will easily pass for a $20 Provence Rosé. The alcohol content is 12.5%.
The Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2020 Tasting Notes
The color is on the amber side of pink. The nose is crisp and clean with grapefruit, cherry, soft spice, hard candy (not sweet), orange, and a light floral edge. The Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2020 is both tart and sour upfront followed by spice and subtle fruit flavors.
This Rosé tastes like melon, tangerine, lemon, dried strawberry, and a slap of spice. The mid-palate offers raspberry and tart cranberry, along with some fizzy spice. The acidity is well-balanced and this is a Rosé that would pair well with fancy salads and simple seafood dishes.
The Summary
- The Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2020 is a well-made wine, it isn’t my favorite style of Rosé, but it has a great deal of flavor and solid structure.
- To my tastes this is more of a food wine than a sipping wine and in that regard this then is an excellent wine. I typically like my Rosé as a sipping wine.
