The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 13 recent release Rosé wines with eight members of our wine judging panel. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Strict tasting rules were applied. Each of the wines were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles and served well chilled. Only ice water and crusty peasant bread were available to cleanse the palate.
The judges wrote down their impressions of each wine on score sheets. The scoring was based on a 5-point system, with 5 as the highest. Double Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded according to a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no Bronze medals awarded for this tasting. Medals are provided based entirely on merit and only to products judged worthy of such award.
The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. The states and countries are identified for each brand.
It’s peak pink drink time — and your blush brand of choice speaks volumes
By Kate Spicer
Rosé sales soar by 150 per cent when the temperature hits 20 degrees
Provençal rosé rarely invites conversations about what time in the morning the grapes are picked, or even what grapes are used. All anyone wants to know is: what colour is it? Any shade of pale pink with a gemlike clarity will do. Basically, is it “nice rosé”?
Exports from Provence — pink makes up 90 per cent of the region’s wine output — have increased 500 per cent in 15 years, and the UK is one of the world’s biggest importers: 12 million bottles in 2022, second only to the US. Last month Waitrose revealed it is mainly drunk at a particular time too — apparently rosé sales soar by 150 per cent when the temperature hits 20 degrees.
Nice rosé is now the accessible luxury statement drink that helps you semaphore who you are while getting gently pissed in the sun. But what does your choice say about you?
Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel
The Manchester United of nice rosé (its cult stretches from Cheshire to Dubai), this was the first to convince men that rosé was manly, hence the nickname “brosé”. Blatant dupes abound, including Lidl’s Breath of Paradise and Asda’s Screaming Devil, while the Whispering Angel brand now includes The Beach for all-day drinking and the richer Rock Angel. (The estate’s premium cru, Garrus, is loved by Lady Beckham.) £22.50, sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk
After the recent heatwave, the skies (at least in Battersea) have decided to water the plants and give us all some respite. So, I have taken this opportunity to gather together a collection of rather lovely rosés that have crossed my tasting bench this year. I am sure there are more to follow, but this is a collection of the very best, and here are my knee-jerk reaction notes! They are listed in price order! P.S. – There are plenty more rosé recommendations on this website!
Rock is another wine that often needs a year to relax into its couture trappings, but this time, the oak nuances are subtle, sublime, and fully integrated into the fruit. This is a first! You can open a bottle of this wine today, secure in the knowledge that it is already up to ramming speed! Layered, luxurious, this is a true big brother to the brilliant 2024 Whispering Angel – see my notes here. But there is more. While this wine was originally designed to be the foodie version of Whispering, it has moved closer to the estate wines (Château, Les Clans and Garrus) than ever before. This is a genuinely great Rock Angel!
Wine advocate 2025 ratings estate collection
By Yohan Castaing
The 2023 Cotes de Provence Rose from Château d’Esclans reveals a delicate, perfumed bouquet of red berries, pomegranate, grapefruit and peaches, delicately intertwined with discreet oaky notes. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and sappy, it’s seamless and pure with a fleshy core of fruit and a lot of freshness, culminating in a mineral, spicy and nicely oaky finish. This is a real effort.
91+ Points
Drink Date: 2025 – 2033
Composed primarily of old-vine Grenache Noir and Vermentino, the 2023 Cotes de Provence Rose Les Clans opens with a delicate, refined bouquet of strawberries, gooseberries, spring flowers and subtle hints of spice and oak. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s round and supple, with an elegant core of fruit and a fleshy mid-palate that leads to a long, mouthwatering, mineral-driven finish. It should age gracefully for at least 2–3 years and beyond.
92+ Points
Drink Date: 2025 – 2035
The 2023 Cotes de Provence Rose Garrus is a true success, offering an alluring bouquet of pomegranate, spices, ripe orchard fruits and red berries, delicately framed by subtle oaky nuances. Medium- to full-bodied, sappy and ample, it is layered and textural, with a tactile core of fruit and a touch of freshness that lifts the finish. This is a structured, sophisticated rosé that can age gracefully, promising to reveal further complexity over the next 4–5 years.
93 Points
Drink Date: 2025 – 2030
The most delicious fresh wines for the summer
By bloemelaarman
It’s summertime and that calls for a nice list of fresh summer wines. As we already mentioned (also read: these are our favorite wines for home ), we are certainly not wine connoisseurs, but we are great tasters. And so we have actually tried a few things again. Whereof noted. So, you’re welcome!
Chateau d’Esclans, a fairytale estate with very fine rosé wines, located in the heart of Provence, in the always fine France. Incidentally, the most important region for rosé wine production in the world.
Whispering Angel and Rock Angel are incredibly popular! And with good reason, because we were allowed to taste them at Restaurant Nela in Amsterdam-Zuid. And poh, we would drive to France to buy a box. No need: you can also buy them online via Gall.nl
Rock Angel is unusual for a rosé because it is aged in wood. This really gives the wine some punch for a rosé. Whispering Angel is a light, refreshing rosé. Perfect for a sunny summer day. The delicious rosés from Chateau d’Esclans are made without added sugars, and you know what they say: no (or less) headaches the next day. Chateau d’Esclans
Davio’s Boston Hosts Exclusive Rosé Wine Dinner with Château d’Esclans
Featuring Brand Ambassador Céline Dublanchet on Friday, July 18th
Boston, MA — Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Boston’s Back Bay is proud to present an exclusive Rosé Wine Dinner in partnership with the iconic Château d’Esclans, home of Whispering Angel. Join us on Friday, July 18th at 6:00 PM for an elegant five-course culinary experience, hosted by Céline Dublanchet, Brand Ambassador of Château d’Esclans.
Each guest will also receive a 375 mL bottle of Whispering Angel Rosé as a gift to take home, continuing the celebration long after the evening ends.
Evening Menu & Wine Pairings
Benvenuto Duxbury Oysters, Basil Granita Mini Tuna Tartare Taco Gazpacho Shooters Paired with: 2024 Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé
Antipasto Burrata, Spicy Blueberry Jam, Pistachio Brittle Paired with: 2023 Château d’Esclans Rock Angel Rosé
Farinaceo Hand-Rolled Potato Gnocchi, Morel Mushrooms, Peas, Parsley Butter Paired with: 2023 Château d’Esclans Les Clans Rosé
Carne del Giorno 55-Day Prime Aged Strip Steak, Maine Lobster, Truffle Potatoes, Asparagus, Tarragon Butter Paired with: 2022 Château d’Esclans Garrus Rosé
Dolce Strawberry, Basil Crème Brûlée, Meringue, Macerated Strawberries Paired with: 2024 The Beach by Whispering Angel Vin de Provence Rosé
$150 per guest Reservations required. Limited seating available.
Celebrate the elegance and versatility of Provence rosés in one of Boston’s most sophisticated dining rooms, perfectly paired with a curated summer menu by Davio’s culinary team.
Château d’Esclans: The Rosé that Rewrote the Rules
By Fran Miller
20 years ago, rosé was a poolside afterthought. Then came Château d’Esclans—and everything changed.
The estate sits in Provence’s hinterland, northeast of St. Tropez. Vines stretch toward the Massif des Maures, with breezes off the Mediterranean. Château d’Esclans itself dates back to the 19th century, though its oldest Grenache vines are more than 100 years old. The land was always promising. It just needed someone to reimagine its potential.
Enter Sacha Lichine. In 2006, he bought the property with a singular mission: make the world’s best rosé. Lichine came from Bordeaux pedigree—his father, Alexis, helped reshape French wine in the mid-20th century. But Sacha had something else in mind: a chilled bottle of pale pink wine that could command attention, price, and placement.
It worked.
Today, Château d’Esclans produces a portfolio that ranges from accessible to extraordinary. Whispering Angel, its flagship, is an international phenomenon—served everywhere from yacht decks to downtown rooftops. Dry, elegant, and mercifully not too fruity, it helped define modern rosé’s signature style. It also showed that pink wine could be serious, without being pretentious.
“Why shouldn’t rosé have a grand cru?”
Sacha Lichine, proprietor, Château d’Esclans
The Pale followed: a lighter, more casual bottling with Art Deco-inspired branding. It’s the kind of wine that appeals across generations—bright, crisp, and not remotely stuffy. Meanwhile, Rock Angel adds a touch of oak and more structured fruit. It’s for people who want depth without losing the lift.
Then there’s the top tier. Chateau d’Esclans, Les Clans, and Garrus come from the estate’s oldest vines. The trio sees barrel fermentation and extended aging, more in line with fine white Burgundy. Garrus, especially, has caused wine professionals to rethink what rosé can be. With its creamy texture, wild strawberry notes, and long mineral finish, it has more in common with Montrachet than the beach.
Distribution has kept pace. The wines are now in more than 100 countries. Celebrity endorsements haven’t hurt. Nor has the sense that you’re drinking something culturally specific—southern France, in a glass—but universally stylish.
Critics once dismissed rosé as unserious. Château d’Esclans disproved that—with winemaking rigor, yes, but also with charm. The estate embraced modern marketing, sleek design, and clear messaging. It made rosé aspirational, without making it inaccessible.
Chateau d’Eesclans
Inspired by the estate’s chapel adorned with ethereal winged figurines, Whispering Angel was meticulously created and brought to life in 2006 by Sacha Lichine, son of the legendary Alexis Lichine (a Bordeaux baron in his own right), where since its luxe genesis has paraded its radiant stature as the crown jewel of Château d’Esclans, nestled deep in the Var region of Provence. It was here that Sacha Lichine had the invigorating vision of a dry, yet smooth delicate rosé flowing with the powerful sensuality of silk, entwined with the ravishing swagger of a Bond girl which now finds itself chilling away in gleaming silver ice buckets adorning pristine superyacht decks in the billionaire playgrounds of Monte Carlo, and passed around like heady fragrant perfumes atop London’s lofty, pulse-pounding rooftop havens.
All the medal-winners from The Global Rosé Masters 2025
By Patricia Stefanowicz
After an intense day’s judging last month, we are able to reveal the full list of medallists from The Global Rosé Masters 2025, in which Provence, the Languedoc and Austria were sources of the very best wines. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports on the tasting.
ONLY IN the past couple of decades has the wine trade begun to take rosé seriously; and so it should when one considers how versatile and well-suited to many occasions rosé wines are.
Nowadays, Provence and the rest of the French Mediterranée are leaders in the category. Usually based on Grenache, with Cinsault and Syrah making up the rest of the blend, the best wines have just a little tannic grip adding interest across the palate, and making them perfect partners for gastronomy. They also tend to be pristine, pale pink-peach in hue and show their colour in flint (clear) glass. Packaging is crucial because, after all, the first duty of a rosé wine is to be ‘pink’, and to see the colour on the shelf (or on the table) is paramount.
There is still a tendency to go for pale – or paler. This year, there were a few delicious wines which did not have even onion skin in the hue. It seems tricky to sell these styles as rosés, as they are closer to blanc de noirs, although most display red fruits and garrigue or mineral accents. Those winemakers who choose to put the wines in wood for added complexity are risking rather a lot. Get it wrong, and disaster can follow. No wonder, then, that rosé is not inexpensive.
The judges tasted a number of quality, balanced, unoaked wines in the under£15 and £15–£20 price brackets. As expected, Provence and the South of France featured heavily in the smattering of Gold medals at these price points, but there were also Golds awarded to Castillo de Albai from Rioja, Planeta from Sicily and Viñedos Puertas from Maule in Chile. There were a fair few Silver medal-winning wines worth drinking from elsewhere, too, including Portugal, Greece, Australia, New Zealand and England.
For unoaked dry wines, the £20–£30 price point hit the sweet spot. Whispering Angel, Château Puech-Haut’s Theyron, G de Galoupet, Château Sainte Marguerite’s Fantastique, Cantina San Marzano’s Amai Susumaniello, Léoube’s Love, Château des Demoiselles, Château Sainte Roseline and Château La Gordonne’s Le Cirque des Grives all took home Golds.
The £30–£50 price bracket was a little less exciting, but Domaines Ott was awarded a Gold in this group. These wines, where cellar care showed through, had plenty of red fruit and crisp acidity, with just a touch of astringency adding structure. When producers choose to use oak (usually second- or third-fill barriques or demi-muids), the wines seem to be first-class. At £20–£30, Weingut Strehn’s Seerosé from Burgenland took a well-deserved Master medal. And at £30–£50, Bodegas Bianchi (Argentina) earned a Gold and Château d’Esclans (Provence) a Master. The stratospherically-priced wines at £50-plus are in fact relative bargains, with enough structure to suit Michelin-star dishes. Château d’Esclans Les Clans was awarded a Gold, and Gérard Bertrand’s Clos du Temple earned a Master. Our Grand Master was – unsurprisingly – Château d’Esclans’ Garrus, a world-class wine by any reckoning.
10 of the world’s finest rosés
By Patrick Schmitt
The category of fine, or luxury rosé, is a fairly new phenomenon, and an expanding one, as more producers try to craft a complex and serious wine that’s also pink. Here, Patrick Schmitt MW picks out 10 of most successful examples following a major blind-tasting last month.
While the top-end of Champagne has for some time incorporated high-priced pink expressions, in still wine, it’s only recently that anyone has dared charge more than £100 for a rosé, and yet, today, there are a few wineries asking that, and more.
What makes such rosés different is sometimes the site selection – with the grapes taken from particular plots, often featuring old, low-yielding vines – but more commonly, it’s due to the cellar techniques, with fine rosés made like great white wines.
By that I mean hand-harvesting, whole-bunch pressing, barrel-fermentations and then maturation in oak vessels in contact with the wine’s fine lees. Such an approach, if well managed (and temperature control and oxygen management is key) can produce a rosé that has a wonderfully full texture, and be age-worthy too. In terms of taste when it’s young, one can expect ripe peachy flavours, allied to creamy, even toasty notes from the oak-influence.
Such wines should also, if they are to be classed as fine, be fresh in every sense: so both zesty and clean. The risk with making fine rosé is ending up with something that lacks the mouth-watering appeal of pink wine, either because it’s heavy, or tired: the characters of too much sweet oak and oxidised, bruised fruit are a danger when eschewing the inert, reductive environs of a stainless steel tank.
The following selection is based on this year’s Global Rosé Masters, which you can read more about below. These are the best expressions over £30 in the competition…
Made exclusively from grapes grown on the estate, Château d’Esclans Rosé is carefully hand-harvested and chilled almost immediately to preserve freshness. Half of the wine is vinified in demimuids (600-litre oak barrels) and half in stainless steel, all temperature-controlled. Over approximately eight months of ageing before blending, the wine’s lees are stirred to increase richness and fullness. The resulting wine is pale peach-pink in colour, with soft yellow peach and ripe pear fruits and rose petal and cream overlay. Dry, the medium-bodied palate shows fresh acidity and density of flavour, and is layered and textured, with an allspice and nutmeg finish. Delicious with roast pork tenderloin stuffed with champignons and sautéed yellow onions. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
LES CLANS 2023
Producer: Château d’Esclans
Region: Provence
Country: France
Grape varieties: 52% Grenache, 48% Rolle
ABV: 14%
Approx. retail price: £58
A powerhouse of a pink drink, Les Clans is a four-wheel-drive rosé that could go anywhere. Why? It’s got this wonderful trait of being rich and creamy, yet delicate and refreshing, making it suitable for sipping on its own or pairing with a wide range of foods, from cured meats to hard cheeses, grilled fish to root vegetables. But should you savour it without accompaniments, you will enjoy the mix of toasted marshmallow and pink grapefruit, along with peach and strawberry, and a lingering note of grilled nuts and citrus zest on the finish. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
GARRUS 2023
Producer: Château d’Esclans
Region: Provence
Country: France
Grape varieties: 67% Grenache, 33% Rolle
ABV: 14%
Approx. retail price: £100
A wine that wows for its subtle complexity, Garrus is the ultimate rosé, and a drink for all occasions, impressing for its instantly appealing characters, as well as intriguing complexity. Whether you sip it slowly or find yourself swallowing it quickly, you’ll experience its complementary layers of flavours, starting with fresh ripe yellow and red fruits, followed by creamy, nutty notes, then some vanilla and toast, and finally lingering tinges of orange zest and grapefruit pith, with a touch of grilled lemon to boot. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
We are proud to announce the results of our wines from the 2025 Global Rosé Masters competition judged on 1 May at The Londoner Hotel in London, employing a distinguished group of experienced judges led by The Drinks Business Editor-In-Chief Patrick Schmitt. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Rosé Master with our wines receiving the following notes and accolades:
Whispering Angel 2024
Probably the world’s most famous rosé, and certainly one of the best-selling, it was pleasing to find that Whispering Angel is a benchmark for quality in the sub £20 category of pale dry pink wines. The rose’s appeal stems from a core of peach, pear and red berry fruit, complemented by a touch of bitter lemon on the finish, while texturally, this is soft in mouthfeel, but leaves one with feeling refreshed with its dry, citric edge.
Rock Angel 2024
The nose reveals delicate red berry aromas with hints of garrigue herbs. On the palate, peach and pomegranate fruit take the lead, supported by a lees-derived texture and a creamy mouthfeel. Subtle oak adds weight and extends the finish, enhancing both depth and length. Medium-plus acidity is well integrated, lending freshness without disrupting the wine’s rounded balance.
Château d’Esclans 2023
The wine is pale peach-pink in colour with soft yellow peach and ripe pear fruits with rose petal and cream overlay. Dry, the medium-bodied palate shows fresh acidity, density of flavour, layered and textured with an allspice and nutmeg finish.
Les Clans 2023
A power house of a pink drink, Les Clans is a four-wheel-drive rosé that could go anywhere. Why? It’s got this wonderful trait of being rich and creamy yet delicate and refreshing, making it suitable for sipping on its own, or pairing with a wide range of foods, from cured meats to hard cheeses, grilled fish to root vegetables. But should you savour it without accompaniments, you will enjoy the mix of toasted marshmallow and pink grapefruit, along with peach and strawberry, and a lingering note of grilled nuts and citrus zest on the finish.
Garrus 2023
Garrus is the ultimate rosé, and a wine for all occasions, wowing for its instantly-appealing characters, as well as intriguing complexity. Whether you sip it slowly or find yourself swallowing it quickly, you’ll experience is complementary layers of flavours, starting with fresh ripe yellow and red fruits, followed by creamy, nutty notes, then some vanilla and toast, and finally, lingering tinges of orange zest and grapefruit pith, with a touch of grilled lemon to boot.
