This Valentine’s Day, choose a bunch of rosés
Still France: Château la Tour de l’evêque ‘Pétale de Rosé’ 2018
This might look pricey for rosé, but it is a very serious example from Côtes de Provence. The 50 yearold vines, now organically certified, create this superbly minerally complex wine. What our tasters all remarked on was its pretty pale pink colour, distinctly salty flavour, orange peel notes, supple texture and intense fruits. £18.50, Corney & Barrow Scotland, Pathhead & Ayr
South Africa: Nelson Family Vineyard Rosé 2018
Deep ruby hints, full bodied rosé style made from four grapes: shiraz, cabernet franc, petit verdot and merlot. Tasters enjoyed its full berried fruits and creamy palate with vibrant acid freshness. Not the most sophisticated rosé, but very approachable for those who like forward fruit styles. £10.95, Corney & Barrow Scotland, Pathhead & Ayr
Italy: Contesa Cerasuolo d’abruzzo 2018
For those who love their rosé deep in colour and full of fruit – an easy-drinker to cheer us up on dark February days with its juicy, cherry, raspberry fruit flavours, lovely texture – and brilliant price. Made near Pescara not far from the Adriatic sea – an area often neglected by tourists and wine lovers – but a great place for bargain hunting.
£8.50, The Wine Society
Australia: Nocturne Nebbiolo Rosé 2018
You may have heard of nebbiolo in Italy, now we are seeing more Italian grapes grown across Australia. This superb nutty, strawberrytoned screwcapped rosé is made by Julian Langworthy, winner of the prestigious Jimmy Watson trophy – only using free run juice.
£18, The Vinorium
Spain: Muga Rioja Rosé 2017
One of Rioja’s best bodegas creates this easy-going dry grenache-based rosé from its vineyards at the foot of the Montes Obarenses in Rioja Alta where limestone soils give grapes good natural acidity – crucial for making good rosé. Our tasters loved its combination of bright, juicy, ripe strawberry fruits alongside crisp, vibrant, acid. £10.99/£12.99, Majestic Wine
Austria: Umathum Burgenland Rosa 2018
One of my top favourites amongst Austrian rosés – and there are quite a few contenders. This is made from a clever blend of equal parts of old vine zweigelt, St Laurent and blaufrankisch – three Austrian grapes for which Josef Umathum has an longestablished reputation grown on gravel and schist soils.
£18, Clark Foyster Wines
Sicily: Pietradolce Etna Rosato 2018
Enchantingly full, juicy, vibrant unoaked Sicilian rosé made from late-ripening nerello mascalese grape at Solicchiata near Castiglione di Sicilia 600 metres up on the northern slopes of Mount Etna. Raspberry notes, creamy palate, crunchy acidity with a fresh minerally backbone but still approachable in style. £16.50, hic-winemerchants. com
Sparkling South Africa: Graham Beck ‘The Rhona’ Brut Rosé NV
Graham Beck make some of the Cape’s best fizz. This great value rosé is made using the traditional method – known in South Africa as ‘Methode Cape Classique’. Tasters loved its exuberant, ripe berry fruits and creamy, spicy richness. £11, Marks & Spencer
New Zealand: Akarua Brut Rosé NV
From some of New Zealand’s most southerly vineyards in Central Otago. A delicious blend of pinot noir and chardonnay – with 15 per cent reserve wine added to give complexity. Very distinct strawberry aromas, hints of toast and yeast with a long savoury, dry finish. £18.99-£20.99, Fine Wine Co Musselburgh; Henderson Wine; The Cave; Kirkness & Gorie; NZ House of Wine
England: Hattingley Valley Rosé Brut 2014
Multi-awarding delicate Hampshire fizz did well in our tasting with tasters praising its strawberry notes, toasty undertones and all round freshness. Made from 60 per cent pinot noir and 38 per cent pinot meunier part-fermented in old Burgundy barrels – with the remaining two per cent from a twin of the pinot noir grape: pinot precoce which was vinified as a still red, added during blending.
£37, Waitrose; £36, www. hattingleyvalley.com
England: Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
Another beautifully pure fragrant example of English rosé fizz. Winemaker Sam Lindo manages to get even more depth and complexity into this pale pink strawberrytoned fizz each year – his rosé is consistently the best in Camel Valley’s range – deservedly winning Best English Sparkling Wine at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships last year.
£29.95, Camel Valley; £29.99, Waitrose
France: Champagne Devaux ‘Cuvée D’ Rosé NV
This cuvée is made from rich, ripe pinot noir grown in the southerly warm Côte des Bars region, with a good percentage of chardonnay to lighten the structure. An elegant, raspberry-scented, fresh vibrant acid with biscuity complex notes from its five years’ ageing. ■
£50, Exel Wines