Rosé season is upon us. The best way to transition into warmer weather is with a bottle from Provence, the French region that started the pink-wine craze.
Delightfully fruity, yet impeccably honed by crisp acidity (and sometimes tangy minerality), rosés from Provence are often considered the top in their category. While usually made from a mix of red grapes—the roster can include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache and Mourvèdre—some bottlings can even include the white grape Vermentino, or Rolle, as it’s called locally.
Here are some of the top-scoring Provence rosés from across the region that are hitting shelves and online shops. Scoop them up and enjoy a bit of Provençal sunshine in a bottle.
Château Vignelaure 2019 Rosé (Coteau d’Aix-en-Provence); $22, 93 points. Produced from organic grapes, this ripe wine is well structured and richly elegant. It has depth and concentration as well as a touch of tannins from the Cabernet and Syrah in the blend. The wine is just ready to drink, although it will be better from late 2020. Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd. Editors’ Choice. –Roger Voss
Château des Bertrands 2019 Rosé (Côtes de Provence); $23, 92 points. This wine’s ripe strawberry flavors are still vibrant with youth. These will soften into a smoother, sophisticated structure, with great fruitiness and textured acidity. The wine has a delicious peppered red-fruit aftertaste. Drink from late 2020. Provence Rose Group. Editors’ Choice. –R.V.
Château Vannières 2017 La Patience Rosé (Bandol); $60, 92 points. Produced from selected parcels and aged in wood, this is a rosé for aging. After almost three years, the wine has become smooth and elegant, with smokiness as well as balanced acidity and spicy flavors. While the fruit is now subdued, the complexity of the wine has taken over. It is ready to drink. H. Mercer Wine & Spirits Imports. –R.V.
Château Minuty 2019 Prestige Rosé (Côtes de Provence); $33, 91 points. With its predominance of Grenache, this wine is generously packed with red fruits along with fresh acidity and a layer of pepper. The wine is both rich and crisp, a balance that makes it ready to drink. Vintus LLC. –R.V.
Château Sainte Marguerite 2019 Love Provence Rosé (Côtes de Provence); $30, 91 points. This deliciously fruity blend of Cinsault and Grenache is packed with raspberry and red-currant flavors. The concentrated texture gives the wine richness as well as intensity. It is ripe, juicy and ready to drink. Dreyfus, Ashby & Co. –R.V.
Mas de Cadenet 2019 Rosé (Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire); $22, 91 points. Produced from organic grapes grown beneath the Sante-Victoire mountain, this wine has plenty of ripe fruits as well as a line of freshness offering lemon and red-fruit flavors. The wine is a little young and will be best from late 2020. David Bowler Wine. –R.V.
Château de l’Escarelle 2019 Rosé (Coteaux Varois en Provence); $24, 90 points. The chateau wine from this estate showcases balance between ripe red fruits and bright acidity. A blend of Cinsault, Syrah and Grenache, it is satisfyingly complete and fruity. Drink now. Banville Wine Merchants. –R.V.
Fabre en Provence 2019 Château Saint-Honoré Rosé (Côtes de Provence La Londe); $18, 90 points. From its privileged vineyard close to the sea, this wine gives richness as well as fruitiness. Strawberry flavors are ripe and full-bodied while keeping a beautiful streak of freshness. It is ready to drink. Regal Wine Imports. Editors’ Choice. –R.V.
Hecht & Bannier 2019 Rosé (Côtes de Provence); $20, 90 points. A rich wine full of ripe raspberry flavors, this spicy blend includes Grenache and Cinsault along with a touch of white Vermentino. This full wine will develop over the next few months. Either drink now or wait until late 2020. Frederick Wildman & Sons Ltd. –R.V.
Maison Saint Aix 2019 Aix Rosé (Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence); $24, 90 points. This soft, bright and ripe wine is full of red fruits. Acidity is balanced in this wine with a fresh aftertaste and tangy texture. It is rich, generous and ready to drink. Kobrand. –R.V.
Published: April 29, 2020
