Cuvée Jean-Paul Rosé 2011
(Southern France) rose

A vivid, pale, strawberry pink with aromas of crushed red berries, laced with an exotic twist. The palate has an instantly appealing soft berry flavour, mingled with a smooth yet textural finish, to make this an uncomplicated, easy drinking fresh and fruity dry rosé of real character.

Sanvigilio Pinot Grigio Rosé 2011
(Italy) rose

Pinot Grigio grapes actually become quite coloured as they ripen - hence the slight copper (romanto) colouring of riper styles of white Pinot Grigio. The colour of grilled prawns, this perenially popular blush is elegantly scented with peachy, blossom aromas and followed by juicy, ripe, berry fruit flavours with zesty acidity and a soft creamy finish. rose, rosé

Torres Santa Digna Rosé 2011
(Central Valley, Chile)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wonderfully dark rosé shows nectarine and cranberry over a background of violet and orange with a lovely smooth finish.

Absolutely fantastic with roast or barbequed lamb.

Circumstance Cape Coral Rosé 2011
(Western Cape, South Africa)

Wines from the Waterkloof Estate emphasise restraint, elegance and a strong mineral character due to the vineyards’ exposed position on the upper slopes of the famed Schaapenberg Mountain. High above False Bay the Waterkloof vineyards face directly onto the Atlantic Ocean at the southern limit of the Stellenbosch wine region. Waterkloof's windswept vineyards are perfectly sited to produce fine, but ripe, delicately coloured rose.

Beautifully dry, with clean minerality and a herbal character, reminiscent of the Fynbos nearby. Elegant fresh fruit flavours with a delicate hint of creamy dried apricot and fig, give way to a delicate, stony minerality.

Domaine de la Vieille Tour Rosé 2011
Côtes de Provence (France)

Domaine de Vieille Tour is a 22 hectare estate situated between Pierrefeu and Cuers in the golden triangle of Var. Its vineyards benefit from lying in a slight geographical depression which has a particular micro climate encouraging long and even ripening of the grapes. The wine is a perfect pale pink and appealing with nice varietal Grenache fruit. On the palate it is soft ripe and juicy. Very friendly clean fruit flavours well balanced with some depth and even a hint of tannins and that tang so typical of Provence Roses on the finish.

Château l'Hestrange Rosé 2011
(Beaujolais, France)

Made at one of the highest estates in Burgundy the owner of this estate, Laurent Metge-Toppin (nick-named the ‘Mange-Tout’) has been described as “The flying wine-maker working in the clouds of Beaujolais.” If he was English he would also be politely described as ‘slightly eccentric’ as when not working on his own estate Laurent also consults at the Siam winery in Thailand where they harvest using both elephants and punt-like boats in the drainage ditches to carry grapes back to the winery for processing! In Thailand the current wine-vintage is 2553 as they use the Buddhist calendar.

Made by rather more conventional methods this wine is left to ferment with its skins for three days before the now lightly tinted juice is separated from the colourful skins. This results in a delicately pale salmon -pink coloured rosé with blackberry and strawberry fruit aromas and more red berry and slightly plumy fruit on the palate. Best served chilled (8º-10º) as an aperitif. Unusually for a rose it will keep for a few years gaining a nice spicy roundness with time.

As well as being served as an aperitif the clean dry style and freshess of this wine and can be drunk with the local "cuisine lyonnaise" from the region it is made in (delicious but wickedly unhealthy cream and butter laden dishes) or some spicy oriental dishes.

Always one of the top selling wines at our Summer Wine Festival.

Rimauresq Cru Classe Rose 2011
(Côtes de Provence, France)

Rimauresq are located up in the hills, roughly equidistant from Toulon and St-Tropez and have a 57ha estate, made up of nine different grape varieties. Rosé wine at Rimauresq is made from three grape varieties, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Tibouren, which together form the basis of most Côtes de Provence Rosé. Cinsault is valued for it’s freshness and attendant acidity; Mourvedre for the structure and quince-like fruit that it brings to the blend; Tibouren, the least known variety, tends to provide the herbal, earthy aromas and fruit found in Provence Rosé.

Vines at Rimauresq are a healthy 40 years old on average, a sure start for quality, which enables Rimauresq to make this wine in a very simple manner. Gently pressed, the Rosé juice is bled off the grape skins after it a few hours to absorb enough colour, before finishing all fermentation and maturing in stainless stell tanks. The wine does not undergo malo-lactic fermentation, to help preserve the fruit and freshness of the three principal grape varieties, nor is such a process needed in the Provence heat. The result is a pretty, pale pink Rosé, with delicate floral aromas, a refined palate of gentle red fruit and strawberry characters with the evocative Provence garrigue aroma and flavour overlaying the wine.

Les Maitres Vignerons Carte Noire 2011
Côtes de Provence Rosé (France)

A group of vineyard owners from the Saint-Tropez peninsula set up this group in the 1960s and have since gained a reputation as leaders in the Provence region, both at home and abroad. The winegrowers each vinify their grapes entirely in the cellars of their own estates, while the group’s organization oversees distribution and sales.

This wine comes from 120 hectares of granite/gneiss slopes, which enjoy mild year-round temperatures due to the proximity of the Mediterranean and a great deal of sunshine. A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Cinsault, the wine was fermented at low temperatures and bottled early without undergoing malolactic fermentation, in order to retain acidity. Classically dry Provence rose, with an attractive floral aroma and redcurrant fruit palate.

M de Minuty Rosé 2012
(Côtes de Provence, France)

Minuty is the top selling rose in not only St Tropez, but the whole of the French Riveria, and that is a part of the world that knows its rosé!

“The nose reveals purity and finesse and is initially rather restrained but quickly evolves with notes of tart red fruit such as red currants and raspberries. With aeration the wine takes on a riper character with notes of strawberry jam or raspberry jelly. A wine that also reveals floral aromas of roses and freesia. On the palate the wine reveals a rather refined attack with flavours of jammy red fruit. The acidity is evident and lends a thirst-quenching aspect to the whole. A lively and tasty wine that is enjoyable for its purity and finesse on the palate.”
Winemaker’s note

Chateau Pampelonne 2011
Côtes de Provence Rosé (France)

Among my favourite rosés every year, this Côtes de Provence rosé from the Côte d’Azur just makes me think of white beaches and bouillabaisse. Beautiful light salmon pink in colour, with superb acidity and complex aromas of garrigue, May blossom, turkish delight, strawberries and watermelon that mingle beautifully on the palate with strawberry and raspberry fruit flavours and a hint of almond tart.

A blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault and 15% Tibouren for the technically minded.

We occasionally have magnums available in very limited quantities, please call the store if interested.