T&T sparkling rosé

Which sparkling rosé is worth raising a glass for? We reveal the top bottles as rated by the Hearst Institute

Ayala Rosé Majeur Champagne, £36.25 (thewhisky exchange.com)

Our testers noted crunchy green apple, pink grapefruit and peach all jostling for attention. Underlying this pale pink rosé is a delightful biscuity note, partly thanks to three years of ageing and the high proportion of chardonnay in the blend. It could happily be paired with salmon through to strawberry cheesecake. 86/100

BEST SUMMER FRUIT FLAVOUR M&S Champagne Delacourt Rosé Brut, £27 (ocado.com)

One of two pink Delacourt Champagnes in the M&S range, and the drier of the two. Packed with wild strawberry and red cherries, alongside a touch of pink grapefruit – and yes, we fully endorse drinking alongside Percy Pigs! 77/100

JOINT RUNNER-UP Waitrose & Partners Rosé Champagne, £26.99 (waitrose.com) Not far behind our winning bottle is Waitrose & Partners’ superb supermarket steal. Again, the complexity here belies the price, with refreshing pink grapefruit, baked apple and Summer fruits balanced with rich brioche notes. 84/100

BEST EASYDRINKING OPTION Sainsbury’s Brut Rosé Champagne, £22 (sainsburys.co.uk) This refreshing, fruitforward Champagne is brimming with ripe raspberry, cherry and strawberry. It’s the sort of bottle we have no qualms about opening midweek should the mood strike.

Pair with a rich, oily fish like smoked salmon or alongside a charcuterie board for your next dinner à deux. 75/100

JOINT RUNNER-UP Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Rosé, £16.99 (aldi.co.uk) The least expensive bottle in our round-up but Aldi’s pink fizz is some of the best on the market. Well-balanced and refreshing, it’s ideal served as a simple aperitif. It displays tart green apple, subtle raspberry notes and a touch of nutty marzipan on the finish. At this price we won’t be saving it for ‘best’! 84/100

BEST LIGHT OPTION Co-op Les Pionniers Rose Champagne, £22 (in-store only) Although most loved the delicate rose petal and raspberry notes in this bottle, for others it was just a bit too subtle. Still, if you prefer a lighter, aromatic Champagne, this should win you over. At this price we reckon it’s worth picking a bottle up next time you’re in-store. 71/100

BEST APERITIF Lanson Rosé NV Champagne, £29.98 (majestic.co.uk) Despite being a brut or ‘dry’ style (like all the wines in this round-up), on test we detected a whiff of sweet strawberry. However, don’t let this fool you – it retains a long dry finish, making it an excellent choice for a glass or two before dinner. 81/100

BEST FOR COCKTAILS Nicolas Courtin Rose Brut Champagne, £16.99 (majestic.co.uk) Although not particularly aromatic, delicate notes of Summer fruits and sour cherry came through on the palate. Our panel found it a little sharp, so we’d recommend pairing with food, in a cocktail, or try making some pink Champagne jellies. 70/100