We reveal the world’s top wines from this year’s Global Rosé Masters, including outstanding barrel-aged pink pours from Château d’Esclans and a new range topper from Brad Pitt’s Château Miraval that’s sold in magnums only.

Following our report last week on the best rosés for under £25 for drinking this summer, we now are turning our attention to pricier drops, featuring the greatest still pink wines on the planet at present – retailing from £25 to £350 – each of which scored a Gold medal or the ultimate accolade of Master when blind tasted by Masters of Wine in London in June this year.

Château d’Esclans Rock Angel 2020 Côtes-de-Provence AOC

• Producer: Château d’Esclans
• Region: Provence
• Country: France
• Grape varieties: 68% Grenache, 22% Vermentino (Rolle), 4% Cinsault, 6% others
• Abv: 13.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.4 g/l
• Vintage: 2020
• Closure: Natural cork
• Approx. retail price: £25
• Medal: Gold

From the 147 hectares of vines at the Château d’Esclans estate comes this really delicious, gently oaked rosé wine. Located near the Golfe de Fréjus on stony soils, old Grenache vines deliver. Augmented by Vermentino (Rolle), a traditional variety in Provence (and Corsica) and Cinsault, the wine has a typical pale peach-pink colour. The delicate peach stone and redcurrant aromatics have just a hint of creamy vanilla-bean wood.  Mid-weight and just dry, the wine has beautifully defined flavours and a gentle lift of white pepper and allspice. Elegant and well-balanced with very good length, this is a delightful wine for summer (and autumn) drinking on its own or with chicken or pork. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Sécret de Léoube Rosé 2021 Côtes-de-Provence AOP

• Producer: Château LéoubeRegion: ProvenceCountry: France
• Grape varieties: 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Abv: 13.5%
• Residual sugar: 0.2 g/l
• Vintage: 2021
• Closure: Natural cork
• Approx. retail price: £30
• Medal: Gold

Organically-farmed on soils dating back 800 million years ago, the grapes are fashioned into this exceptional rosé by Romain Ott, a fourth-generation winemaker from the famous Ott family. Pale vieux rose in hue, the wine shows raspberry, strawberry and rhubarb with a hint of dried apricot. Slightly pétillant, crunchy fruit is framed by bracing acidity and gently warming alcohol. Savoury, sappy with a touch of white pepper on the lingering finish, the wine is a perfect match for seabream, rainbow trout or dorade. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

Le Cirque Des Grives Château La Gordonne

• Producer: Château La Gordonne
• Region: Cotes de Provence
• Country: France
• Vintage: 2019
• Grape varieties: 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah
• ABV: 13.5%
• Residual sugar: 2 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £65
• Medal: Gold

The flagship expression from Château La Gordonne, using the best fruit from the estate, is an outstanding example of Provençal rosé. There’s a creaminess to the taste and texture that lends weight and complexity to the delicious fruit flavours, which comprise whitefleshed peach, pear and blood orange, followed by a touch of bitter almond on the long finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Les Clans

• Producer: Chateau d’Esclans Domaines Sacha Lichine
• Region: Provence
• Country: France
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape varieties: 81% Grenache, 19% Vermentino
• ABV: 14%
• Residual sugar: 0.4 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £56
• Medal: Master

The baby Garrus from Château d’Esclans, called Les Clans, gives a taste of skilfully crafted, barrel-influenced rosé for half the price of the range topper – and therefore, offers brilliant value relative to Garrus, even if it doesn’t quite match the quality. What you get with Les Clans is wonderful ripe yellow stone fruit, along with notes of orange blossom and pear, complemented by cashew nuts and toast, a touch of creaminess, and then some chalky-textured phenolic grip on the finish, giving this a dry, refreshing edge. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Muse de Miraval

• Producer: Miraval Provence
• Region: Provence
• Country: France
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape varieties: 50% Grenache, 50% Rolle
• ABV: 13.5%
• Residual sugar: Less than 2 g/l
• Approx. retail price: £350
• Closure: Cork
• Medal: Gold

This year saw the arrival of a new luxury rosé to our blind-tasting competition, which came from Miraval in Provence. Called Muse de Miraval, it’s made using Grenache and Rolle from the oldest parcels at the estate, and sees the grapes fermented in egg-shaped concrete tanks, with a portion of the wines aged in barrels, before the finished product is bottled in magnums – and only this large format. It’s a fine addition to the top-end pink drinks scene, with notes of peaches and cream, pear and vanilla pod, along with a touch of dried herbs, and, following the soft flavours from ripe fruit and fine oak is a zesty, citrus-tasting finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Garrus

• Producer: Chateau d’Esclans Domaines Sacha Lichine
• Region: Provence
• Country: France
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape varieties: 55% Grenache, 45% Vermentino
• ABV: 14%
• Residual sugar: 0.4 g/l
• Closure: Cork
• Approx. retail price: £150
• Medal: Master

When it comes to Garrus, the original is still the best. This was the first rosé to be made like a fine white Burgundy or Bordeaux blanc – fermented and aged in a mixture of new and used oak barrels to create a wine with a creamy taste and texture, and the potential to age and develop over time after bottling. It was also the brand that started the category of luxury rosés, as the first non-sparkling pink drink to retail for more than £100 a bottle. And it was the best-performer in the inaugural Global Rosé Masters, and has consistently been the highest-scorer in this competition. The appeal lies in its brilliantly-balanced mix of ripe fruit, fine oak, and freshness. One sip, and the wine gradually unfolds, revealing flavours of peach and pear, pomegranate and pink grapefruit, then orange zest mingling with creamy vanilla and toasted marshmallow. As for the feel of this rosé, there’s a slight richness to the wine, with an oily weight to it, but a bone dry, chalk and citrus finish, which ensures it still serves as a refreshing rosé. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

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