Gusbourne sparkling rosé

Made with the same grapes used for Champagne, and rested on its lees for almost two years, Gusbourne’s 2015 rosé is a great example of the kinds of sparkling wine England is now capable of producing.

This wine has a delicate creaminess which helps to balance the bright red cherry, strawberries and red currant flavours that come from a large amount of Pinot Noir in the blend. A heavenly, light, fruity and slightly floral wine, we think this is a lovely aperitif to serve the English fizz admirer in your life.

The price: £49

The medal: Gold – The Global Rosé Masters, 2019

Find it: Master of Malt, 31Dover, Gusbourne’s website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hattingley Valley Rosé

Another stunning homegrown sparkler, Hattingley Valley’s rosé actually picked up a Master in our Global Rosé Masters in 2018, rising above some seriously impressive wines in the rankings from Italy, Australia and France.

Hattingley Valley’s rosé was singled out for its delicate aromas of apple, red berries, rhubarb and toast, along with its appealing creamy-textured palate, with a mouth-filling, fine mousse to boot. The wine had “lovely definition” according to one judge, with a pleasing persistence. Delightful with creamy fish dishes, or perhaps a lobster thermidor if you’re really spoiling your loved one. Alternatively, this alongside a box of good quality white chocolates with some corresponding flavoured fillings wouldn’t go amiss.

The price: £36

The medal: Master – The Global Rosé Masters, 2018

Find it: Hattingley’s website, Waitrose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Heidsieck Rosé Reserve

Sometimes, only Champagne will do, and you could do a lot worse than this wonderfully complex NV. Around 80% of the year’s wines are composed of equal portions of Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, while the 20% of reserve wines are made up of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay.

Coral-like in appearance, this wine is fresh and bright, bubbly rosé is filled with aromas of stewed strawberries and biscuits, with a hint of warming spice tying the whole thing together. The palate has a lovely creaminess, which, thanks to the robust mousse, gives one the impression of drinking whipped cream (in a good way).

The price: £55

The medal: Gold – The Champagne Masters 2019

Find it: The Whisky Exchange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rare Champagne Rosé 2008

For the partner who has everything, this rather expensive serve launched last year is one way to make them feel very special. Launched at Claridge’s last year, the 2008 vintage is the latest from Piper-Heidsieck’s prestige range, which recently became a standalone brand.

Made from 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, this rose quartz-hued fizz has all the distinction and precision we expect from a wine crafted by cellar master Regis Camus.

We detect blossom and rose petals harmonising with red and black berries, with a citrus edge that rounds the flavours out. A creamy mousse holds the whole thing together.

The price: around £300

The medal: Master – The Champagne Masters 2019

Find it: The Whisky Exchange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock Angel Rosé

If your soulmate likes to think they’re edgy, they might appreciate this snazzy bottle from Château d’Esclans, which over the years has pioneered and perfected the art of barrel-fermented Provence rosé.

Though this wine exhibits an intriguing creaminess that offers a point of difference to the unoaked styles more common in the region, the barriques themselves are temperature controlled, so the fresh red fruit flavours synonymous with Grenache are retained.

Patrick Schmitt MW, chair of the Global Wine Masters, thought the Rock Angel rosé was “a little more soft rock than punk,” thanks to its brief time in barriques, which gives the wine a rounded mouthfeel.

Overall, our judges were impressed by Rock Angel’s “creamy taste and texture, along with ripe fruit flavours of strawberry and peach, as well as its pure, crisp lemon zest edge.”

The price: Approx £20-30

The medal: Master – The Global Rosé Masters, 2019

Find it: Roberson Wine, Amazon, Slurp.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Château Minuty Rose et Or

If you are looking for something a bit more elegantly presented, ready-to-drink, and without the flavour and textural influence that comes from oak, then this Provençal pink called Rosé et Or is a brilliant option.

Picking up the ultimate accolade of Master in this year’s Rosé Masters, this sample was deemed the very best in its class – that is, pink wine priced between £30 and £50 that has not seen any influence from wood during its production.

Fresh, light and lively, it’s a wonderful aperitif wine, but, using Grenache grapes from old vines at the Château Minuty estate, it has a depth of flavour only seen in the very best pinks from Provence.

In other words, you can expect to taste a touch of ripe fleshy peach, followed by a palate-cleansing citrus sensation, like biting into a slice of wonderfully fresh pink grapefruit.

The price: £25

The medal: Master – The Global Rosé Masters, 2019

Find it: Majestic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albury Silent Pool Rosé

Fans of low intervention, and ethically-minded drinkers will appreciate the thought that goes into sourcing this lovely organic rosé from Surrey.

Nestled in the beautiful Surrey Hills, just outside Guildford, Albury is the Surrey home of the Duke of Northumberland. It has an organic 12-acre vineyard planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, as well as some Seyval Blanc and Pinot Gris, and produces around 20,000 bottles a year.

In our 2018 Organic Masters, Albury’s sparkling rosé picked up a Gold medal, but in 2019, it was the winery’s still, Silent Pool rosé that wowed the judges.

This tempting rosé – which is the first wine Albury ever produced –  impressed not only with with a “prettily aromatic” nose, bursting with crushed red fruits, from summery strawberry to bright redcurrant, but also an inviting creamy quality that left more than one judge dreaming of rhubarb and custard.

On the palate, our esteemed panel loved the structure and craft of Albury’s rosé, with its balanced texture, concentrated red currant and rhubarb flavours, strong definition, length, and “bracing acidity”.

The price: £18

The medal: Gold – The Global Organic Masters, 2019

Find it: Abel and Cole