This M&S rosé is £4 cheaper than Whispering Angel – and some wine experts say it tastes better

By SOPHIE HINES FOR YOU MAGAZINE

Published: 15:11 GMT, 19 March 2025 | Updated: 15:14 GMT, 19 March 2025

Whisper it – there could be a new rival to Whispering Angel in town. According to wine experts, a freshly-launched Provence rosé from M&S tastes just as good – if not better – than the much-loved pale pink tipple, and what’s more, it’s cheaper.

Marks & Spencer has launched La Balconne organic Provence rosé for £18 a bottle, and wine connoisseurs are impressed. This includes TV wine and drinks expert Andy Clarke, who tasted La Balconne against Whispering Angel (which normally sells at £22.25 a bottle) and was blown away by the quality.

‘I’ve tasted hundreds of rosés over the years and it’s always so exciting to find a new one that whizzes straight to the top of my list,’ he says. ‘Having this delicious organic Provence on the shelves is extremely exciting for spring and summer sipping, and it’s a must-try for anyone who loves those summery aromas of strawberries and fresh herbs. Move over Whispering Angel… rosé doesn’t get better than this.’

It’s good news for those of us who are looking forward to sunny weekends with a glass of wine in hand, especially as M&S is our go-to shop for posh picnic bits anyway. And while the new wine certainly isn’t cheap, it is high on quality. 

La Balconne organic Provence rosé is crafted by wife-and-husband duo Julie Rouffignac and Gérald Lafont, using grapes from selected organically farmed vineyards located within France’s Côtes de Provence wine region. By using grapes from an exclusive selection of vines grown on a variety of different soil types across Provence, Julie and Gérald have been able to craft a complex, well-balanced rosé with layers of flavour in every sip.

Taste notes include red berries, ripe peach and delicate cherry blossom.

Bursting with enticing aromas of red berries, ripe peach and delicate cherry blossom, all balanced by refreshing acidity, this sunny rosé is an ideal match for picky bits, charcuterie, light pasta dishes and summer salads – or perfect enjoyed on its own.

La Balconne will have quite a task taking on Whispering Angel, however. The iconic wine is the top-selling French Provence-style rosé in the world and available in 100 countries. A staggering 10 million bottles are produced every year.

Belinda Kleinig, expert in-house winemaker at M&S Food, added: ‘While I’d always say you can drink rosé all year round, we know people tend to open their first bottle of the year on the first sunny weekend in spring. That’s why we’re launching La Balconne in March so that shoppers have got this year’s most exciting new pink drink in time for the warmer weather.’

To be honest, we have room in our lives for more than one amazing Provence rosé, so it’s nice to see another one join the party. Here’s to a sun-filled season of cheers-ing ahead. 

:
This M&S rosé is £4 cheaper than Whispering Angel – and some wine experts say it tastes better

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk