Top ten rosé wines to enjoy this summer
A chilled glass of rosé on a warm summer's day is one of life's great pleasures. From the ultra-clean Pinot Noir-based wines of the Loire Valley to the full bodied, fruit forward Rhône blends of Tavel, there is a rosé for every occasion. Here at Hedonism Wines, we've complied a list of ten of our favourite roses from our selection of nearly 60. Browse our top ten and put together your very own mixed case to explore this quintessential summer wine.
2018 marked the inaugural vintage of Clos du Temple, an ultra-premium limited production rosé from Gérard Bertrand bottled in custom-designed bottles. It is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Viognier from a single organic and biodynamically cultivated vineyard in the Languedoc, matured in new French oak barrels for 6 to 8 months, with additional lees-stirring. It is rich, satin-textured and perfectly balanced, with notes of summer berries, citrus, stone fruits, wild flowers, spices and stoney minerality.
A legendary rosé from the famous Domaines Ott, who manage not one but two wineries - one in the Côtes de Provence and the other in Bandol. The 2021 vintage of Clos Mireille showcases a classic blush rose colour with notes of white flowers, vibrant citrus and fragrant peach. An expressive, clean, fresh style that is best served well chilled - presented here in a magnum sized bottle.
A serious Provençal rosé made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. The grapes are all hand-picked before destemming and fermentation. The result is an intensely aromatic nose of fresh white peach, melon, citrus blossom and a touch a red apple skin. The palate has wonderful depth with a taut mineral structure retaining freshness through to the finish. A clean, vibrant offering from Château Minuty that would pair well with seafood dishes and light salads.
A fuller style of rosé from Château d'Aqueria, an estate recently purchased by the Guigals - a family famous for crafting some of the greatest wines in the Rhône valley. This food friendly Tavel offers notes of ripe strawberry, peach and raspberry leaf on the nose, while the palate is marries a refreshing acidity with a medium body and a long finish. The perfect rosé for those who like a little more punch and concentration.
Celebrating their 10th vintage in 2022, Miraval has swiftly risen to become of the world's favourite Provençal rosés and it's easy to see why. Salmon pink in the glass, the nose offers a beguiling combination of frais de bois, white peach and dried garrigue herbs. The palate is smooth, silky and fresh before a lifted, aromatic finish. Delicious, balanced, fresh and complex - this is the ultimate summer rosé that pairs perfectly with oysters, scallops and fresh summery salads.
Sancerre is most famous for it's wonderfully crisp and clean Sauvignon Blanc, but the region produces outstanding Pinot Noir-based rosés too. This particularly fine example is produced by brother and sister team Arnaud and Stèphanie Dezat, who gained experience working with their father and uncle at the esteemed Domaine André Dezat. This is a dry, refreshing wine with hints of soft red fruit, white flowers and clean citrussy zing. Zippy and clean on the palate and into the finish, this is an excellent cool climate rosé that competes with the very finest examples from Bandol and Provence.
An elegant, fresh rosé, the first from the revitalised Château Galoupet vineyard in the heart of Provence. A barrel-aged blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre offering notes of white fruit, citrus and bitter almonds alongside hints of white flower and ripe peach. Fuller bodied with a layered mineral finish, this is an excellent choice to pair with food or for those who enjoy a fuller bodied wine.
Whispering Angel is one of Château d'Esclans most famous bottlings - salmon colour with notes of ripe wild strawberry, peach and melon. A touch of citrus on the finish keeps the ripe fruit in check before a complex, evolving finish. A classically styled Provence rose from the beautiful d'Esclans estate, situated in the rolling, lavender coloured hills north of St Tropez.
A new prestige cuvée from the team at Domaines Ott - Etoile. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre, with a quarter of the wine having been aged ceramic spheres to preserve the purity of the fruit. The result is a complex, precise wine that offers notes of pink grapefruit, citrus oils, fresh raspberry and vine peach. Round, full and fruit-forward, this is an elevated rosé with complexity and finesse.
Bordeaux is best known for its superb, age-worthy reds and luscious sweet wines, but also produces a number of superb dry rosés as well. Elegance du Clos Cantenac offers ripe red fruit, white peach and crunchy red apple notes before a mouth-filling palate with orange peel and lanolin. This finish is long and layered - a superb, Merlot-based wine that showcases just how delicious Bordeaux rosé can be.