Asda, the family favourite supermarket, continues to impress with its selection of quality wines at reasonable prices. The supermarket has recently launched its own version of the highly sought-after blush wine, Whispering Angel.
Since its original launch in 2007, Whispering Angel has amassed a near cult-like following due to its signature pale hue, dry taste, and easy finish, reports the Mirror.
Recently I was lucky enough to sample Asda’s take on this Provence rose, intriguingly named Screaming Devil. This wine promises to provide an exciting and potentially more affordable alternative to the premium brand.
Keen to try it out, I poured myself a glass on a late summer evening.
Rosé is a refined type of wine that should delicately dance across your tastebuds like a ‘whisper’. Despite the somewhat ominous connotations of the name on the label, this ‘bargain’ bottle is worth a shot for those who enjoy a good glass of pink.
Currently retailing at Asda for £13 per bottle, it offers a decent saving compared to the Whispering Angel brand, which often sells for over £20 each.
According to Asda, Screaming Devil boasts “perfumed white peach, bright mango, and passion fruit aromas, along with some rhubarb notes on the nose”. In terms of taste, it’s described as having a “really lively vibrant palate, a fresh and saline structure, beautiful zesty length, with intense aromas.”
I eagerly sipped from my favourite wine glass, the beverage freshly chilled, appreciating its salmon pink colour and delicate fruity aroma.
While I’m hardly a connoisseur, bright pink wines usually set alarm bells ringing a precursor to a hangover from hell. Nevertheless, the Screaming Devil presented an inviting shade that wasn’t just on par with its Whispering Angel doppelganger but also echoed the grandeur of pricier delights like Minuty, Mirabeau, and even the St Tropezian darling, Domaines Ott.
Tasting it, there was a surprising sweetness and stronger fruit notes than anticipated, yet it still offered all the deliciousness needed to stir the soul with that first refreshing sip.
My preference leans towards extremely dry varieties, and although this one felt rather rich for my palate, it remained irresistibly quaffable and an excellent runner-up to Whispering Angel. Even cooler, the bottle is adorned with an exquisitely pale pink glass stopper, that reminded me of a Chanel perfume.
In a blind-tasting showdown, wine expert Tom Gilbey graced the Asda find with high praise, celebrating its juiciness and delectability, hailing it as a “perfectly good rose”.
He declared: “Screaming Devil’s on my right. The better rose. I literally love that wine. That is effing good rose. It is significantly better than Whispering Angel, and it’s £5 less. If there’s any left after I’ve gone down the shops, get yourself down and get some Screaming Devil rose, it’s bloody good.”
Asda customers appear to concur with the connoisseur’s views. One glowing five-star review read: “So as an avid drinker of Whispering Angel, I heard about this wine and thought. Let’s give it a go. It’s actually better than Whispering Angel at £21 and at £13 per bottle. You won’t be disappointed.”
Another delighted customer said: “Perfect Provence rose to rival – but in my opinion better than Whispering Angel and a better price point. Fantastic wine.”
Recommendations for other delectable rose options include the highly esteemed La Vieille Ferme Rose (£7 at Sainsbury’s) or the exquisite Mirabeau Belle Annee Rose (£8.55 from Amazon).
