Retro review: Sogrape Mateus Rosé

Sogrape Mateus | Portugal | LCBO Code # 166 | $11.05 | 11% alc. | 9 g/l res. sugar

Have a look at the LCBO code on this wine. This will give you an indication of how long Mateus (pronounced Ma-Tay-Us) has been in this market.

I remember it as a kid scouring the liquor store shelves and yet, until now, I had never once tasted Mateus.

Mateus was developed in 1942 and by the 1970s it was a successful international brand. The bottle has changed in recent years and I’m certain that, despite this being a non-vintage wine, the flavour profile will have changed a little as well.

It’s not overly sweet but has enough sugar to highlight strawberry and red currant notes with a little creaminess coming through at the mid-palate. It has an appealing effervescence that made me think of summer and backyard entertaining but it ends with a dull wet paper finish which I couldn’t shake. It can sometimes happen during winemaking at any scale.

At the price I can understand the appeal and it’s made even more attractive that until Feb. 26, Mateus is on sale for $9.05. The recipe below is from the Sogrape website and a good reason to consider stocking up for summer entertaining.

Mateus Frosé

• 250mL Mateus Rosé Original

• 50mL wild berry fruit juice

• 50mL vodka

• 30g sugar

• 3 strawberries

• Ice, ice, and more ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix. Garnish with lime zest.