The world’s best rosé revealed

The biggest blind tasting of pink wines in the UK has just taken place, and that’s gives us a chance to reveal the world’s best rosé for 2020.

Such a result has been made possible by the completion of 2020’s Global Rosé Masters, which sees almost 200 samples from every corner of the pink-wine-producing world tasted ‘blind’ -– the judge had no knowledge of the source region or producer.

And, after this tasting, there were in fact two wines that achieved equally high scores of 96 points, which means that we must conclude that there is not one single ultimate Rosé Master in 2020, but two.

These are Garrus by Château d’Esclans and Clos du Temple by Gérard Bertrand. Both are dry Grenache-based rosés from France, both retail for more than £100, both are barrel-fermented, but one uses grapes grown in Côtes de Provence, and the other doesn’t – Clos du Temple hails from a biodynamic vineyard in Languedoc, dubbed a ‘grand cru’ site by producer Gérard Bertrand.

This means, based on an entirely independent blind tasting, that the Languedoc is capable of making rosé as great as Provence. Not better, but just as brilliant.

See below for the tasting notes and details on these two outstanding rosés.

Meanwhile, the June edition of the drinks business will feature a full report on the tasting, including all the medal winners. 

Clos du Temple

Producer: Gérard Bertrand
Country: France
Region: AOP Languedoc
Grape variety: Grenache (30%), Cinsault (20%) Syrah (20%) Viognier (30%)
Vintage: 2019
Residual sugar level: <1
Closure type: Natural cork
Colour: Very pale salmon pink
Medal: Master in the Global Rosé Masters 2020
Price: £170

This barely pink rosé belies a powerfully-flavoured, persistent and layered drink, with plenty of barrique-sourced characters from toast to vanilla pod, complemented by masses of juicy fruit from peach, ripe pear and wild strawberry, and an appealing orange zest lift too.

Garrus

Producer: Château d’Esclans
Country: France
Region: Côtes de Provence
Grape variety: Grenache (96%), Vermentino  (3%), Tibouren (1%)
Vintage: 2018
Residual sugar level: <1
Closure type: Natural cork
Colour: Very pale salmon pink
Medal: Master in the Global Rosé Masters 2020
Price: £120

Garrus may be only just pink, but it carries all the delicious flavours of fine Provençal rosé, from peach to red berries, white cherries and orange blossom, along with the creamy, vanilla characters from fine French oak. Textured, full-flavoured, but also fine and refreshing, this must be the world’s most versatile dry rosé.