Whispering Angel Opens Terrace at Yauatcha City for dim sum pairing

By Libby Zietsman-Brodie

You would have to have been living under a rock not to have heard of Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel and its premium big sister Rock Angel. These rosés have gripped the summer drinking crowd the last couple of years and now they are launching pop-up terraces around the capital for the sunnier months. At Yauatcha City, where the Whispering Angel pop-up resides until 27 September, it was decorated in pink flowers and abuzz with City-types unbuttoning collars.

The evening began with an Angel Spritz, a refreshing fruity blend of the aforementioned wine, Aperol Spritz, apricot liquor and tonic to cool you down.

Whispering Angel is a blend of juicy Grenache, floral Cinsault and Rolle and it is bone dry, meaning it can pair freshly with rich dishes yet not dominate more delicate flavours. Yauatcha, experts in the art of dim sum, have devised a special pairing menu for the terrace and the rosé slipped down a treat with the fragrant, delicate lobster dumpling lightly spiced with ginger and topped with Tobiko caviar.

For those in the mood for something meatier, the soft-shell crab bao is supremely satisfying and the Iberico pork truffle siew long bao is a triumph so good we had to order more.

I could have happily nibbled away for hours as the sun set but was advised not to miss the dessert, a shiny cerise globe of rhubarb compote, gin jelly and juniper mousse. But it was the Sakura and raspberry macaron that won my heart in the end – a skilfully crisp bite of daintily perfumed flavours.

You can pause for a glass, carafe, bottle, magnum or – for those who are going large – even a jeroboam (£256) of this popular rosé.

Other terraces serving the wine include Searcy’s at the Gherkin, Stoke House Terrace in Victoria and Wright Brothers Jetty in Battersea. 

Rock Angel & Whispering Angel

The 25 Best Rosé Wines of 2022

The rosé craze is so well established in the United States by now that no one can argue against its credentials as more than just a summer tipple — for large waves of the drinking public, pink wine is a year-round staple. But May continues to mark an important moment on the rose calendar: the point at which the majority of the most recent Northern Hemisphere bottlings are available on the American market.

May also heralds the moment VinePair’s tasting panel assembles to dig out the best of the best in the rose category, and this year certainly delivered. Compiled based on factors such as quality; value, and availability; 2022’s list features supermarket staples, bottles for orange and natural wine aficionados, and worthy opportunities to splurge.

This year’s final ranking pays noteworthy visits to Spain, Portugal, and Greece, as well as both coasts of the United States and, of course, Provence. Expect classic southern French blends and varietal bottlings from a range of exciting different grapes.

Here are the 25 best rose wines for 2022. Looking for our 2021 edition of this list? Head over here.

16. CHATEAU D’ESCLANS ROCK ANGEL 2020

Château d’Esclans propelled the rose movement into the American mainstream with Whispering Angel. This bottle, the more decadent, slightly pricier sibling of that wine, sees partial vinification in 600-liter oak barrels. That process brings a richness to the wine and softens the tartness of its fruit notes. If you’re a regular Whispering Angel drinker, seek out this wine for the next phase of your rose exploration. Average price: $34.

Rating: 91