Fresh and fruity, this thirst-quenching wine can be a cool aperitif or a fine dining accompaniment. From Provence to the Loire, here is a selection that might just change your mind about this pink drink…perfect to welcome the sunnier days and share with grateful company.
Rosé for a pleasing price
We can smell the first hints of summer in the air, and it’s in this festive spirit that we’ve selection some rosé cuvées that you can enjoy without breaking the bank. Let’s start with a rosé from the Rhône, light in tone and delicate on the nose, produced by Domaine Charvin and available for just €9. Château des Garcinières offers a 2019 rosé from the Côtes-de-Provence appellation. Flavourful and fresh, this is a lovely cuvée for under €10. From the heat of Vaucluse we have a 2019 rosé by Domaine de la Janasse whose freshness and tension fly the flag for the ‘saignée’ style rosé.
Rosé for an aperitif
With its classically fresh and fruity profile, rosé lends itself well to an aperitif. It goes well with many of the light dishes served at an early evening get-together. What will you pick between a 2020 Côte-de-Provence from Domaine Rimauresq – floral and fruity on the nose, dense and ample on the palate – Comte Abbatucci’s Faustine cuvée – characterful, fresh and flavourful – a 2020 Corail cuvée from Château de Roquefort – tasty and very aromatic – and a 2019 IGP Côtes-Catalanes from Olivier Pithon – aromatic with red fruit and gentle spices?
Rosé to go with a meal
Complex to make, we’ve been seeing a new, more sophisticated side to rosé wines in recent years, with many more than suited to accompany the most refined dishes. Far from the insipid, colourless rosés that sometimes come to mind, France’s terroir is rich in crus classés and fine cuvées made at prestigious domains by talented vintners. In Sancerre, Gérard Boulay is one of our favourites, and here we have a Pinot noir vinified as a rosé. Lively and persistent, this cuvée will pair nicely with salmon, ratatouille, or a cool gazpacho. Yves Leccia crafts a gastronomic rosé with irresistible freshness with the 2019 YL cuvée, a gem of the Ile de Beauté for just €14! In Bandol, Château Chandel produces a beautifully rich wine with notes of exotic fruit and citrus. Another bottle perfect to serve at the table is the 2018 Côte-de-Provence from Château d’Esclans, which will go nicely with a regional dish like bouillabaisse or a vegetable tian.
Rosé with fizz
Here are some bubbly rosé cuvées that are worth a little detour from your usual choices. Virginie Bergeronneau has made a beautiful blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay that we highly recommend. Taittinger’s prestige rosé is a lively and fruity cuvée that will pair nicely with pastry for a sweet treat. Olivier Horiot’s 2012 rosé de saignée is particularly delicate, making a great accompaniment for red fruits, much like the 2006 Dom Pérignon. Finally, the famous Domaine de Miraval has revealed the champagne version of its rosés, just as accomplished and a pleasure to sip!
Enjoy the warmer evenings and see our full selection of rosé cuvées here