Pink wine is such an important category these days. Everyone likes it, it sells well, and it’s a category that is growing. But there is one question that remains: while there’s lots of good rosé out there, why is it rosé doesn’t get critics excited? When it comes to doling out points for wine, how come rosés – even the best ones – struggle to get past the low 90s on the 100 point scale?
In some ways this is a bit of a moot point. If the wines are selling well and people are making money, why should we worry about the critics? I can’t refute this position. If things aren’t broken, don’t try to fix them.
I’ve been tasting a lot of rosé of late, and here are my notes and scores. They are in score order, but with each score, there’s no particular order.
I often joke that if I wanted to start a winery that made money, I’d make just rosé and sparkling wine. Both categories are growing at the moment, and they are both quite technical wine styles – you need to get it right to do each well.
Domaine de Cala Rosé 2023 Coteaux Varois en Provence, France
12.5% alcohol. Organic. This is bright, light and delicate but has a nice rich texture. Pale in colour, it’s sweetly fruited and textural with subtle pear and white peach fruit, with a twist of white pepper. This is all about mouthfeel, not bright acidity. A beautiful wine. 93/100
Domaine de Jale Les Fenouils Rosé 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
12% alcohol. Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Rolle and Syrah. Pale pink and perhaps a bit more golden in colour, this is rich and textural with a core of sweet pear and peach fruit. It’s rich and smooth in the mouth, but nicely balanced with a depth and generosity to it. Subtle toast and meal notes. 92/100
Mirabeau en Provence Pure 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
12.5% alcohol. Lively aromatics of watermelon, ripe pear and cherry. In the mouth this has a nice rounded, smooth palate with generous pear and cherry fruit, with some fine, tingly mandarin framing and a long, smooth finish. Just a bit of dissolved carbon dioxide here to add freshness. Very assured. 92/100
Château Minuty Rose et Or 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
12.5% alcohol
£28 Harvey Nichols, Clos19
Very pale in colour. Fine, expressive nose with some subtle almond and spice as well as pear and white peach. In the mouth this is very smooth and refined with a hint of toasty spice alongside smooth pear and cherry fruit, finishing soft and long. 92/100
Ixsir Grande Réserve Rosé 2023 Lebanon
13.5% alcohol
£30 Great Wine Company
A blend of Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Syrah. Pale in colour, this has some warmth to it, with smooth-textured flavours of pear, peach and cantaloupe melon, as well as a long, sweetly fruited finish. There’s some depth here, and it’s quite classy. 91/100
Château des Annibals Rosé 2023 Coteaux Varois en Provence, France
13% alcohol. Organic. Pale pink in colour, this has nice texture and freshness with smooth pear and cherry fruit with a fine spicy bite on the finish. It’s a slightly understated, dry style but it works really well, and isn’t tiring to drink. Lovely balance. 91/100
Pasqua 11 Minutes Odi Et Amo Rosé Trevenezie 2023 Italy
12.5% alcohol. This is powerfully flavoured, distinctive and aromatic. Notes of herbs, negroni and cherry, with a smooth mouthfeel and some nice acid on the finish. It’s lively, with a touch of liquorice as well as some cedar and sappy green detail. Gastronomic. 91/100
M de Minuty 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
13% alcohol
£16.50 Clos 19, £18.99 Majestic, £14.99 mix six price
Elegant modified skittle bottle design. Pale pink in colour this is a nice textural rosé with a soft rounded mouthfeel and lovely cherry and pear fruit, with some fine spices on the fringe. Very classy. 91/100
Mirabeau en Provence Classic Rosé 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
12.5% alcohol. Highly aromatic with sweet cherries and lime peel, with some spicy detail. In the mouth this is really bright with good acid supporting the cherry, pear and lemon fruit, with real appeal. It’s smooth and ripe, with lovely sweet fruit, but also fresh and nicely detailed, finishing with some mandarin and spice. 91/100
Mirabeau en Provence X Rosé 2023 Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France
12.5% alcohol. Lovely weight and balance to this pale coloured rosé, with sweet aromatics of cherries and strawberries, leading to a textured mouth of pear, mandarin and some spice. It has volume on the mid-palate, but finishes brisk and refreshing. Nicely balanced. 91/100
W/O Nero D’Avola Rosato 2023 Sicilia, Italy
12.5% alcohol. Laithwaites/Direct Wine. Fresh, lively aromatics with some leafy hints as well as red cherry and redcurrant. In the mouth, this is bright and fruit focused with a peppery edge to the lemon, cherry and pear fruit. It’s a pale coloured rosé, but it has beautiful tart fruit with some sweetness on the midpalate and mandarin brightness on the finish. 91/100
Bargemone Libre Rosé 2023 Coteaux D’Aix en Provence, France
13% alcohol. Organic. Pale pink in colour. Lovely fresh aromatics here with bright cherries and some exotic herbs. In the mouth this has sweet fruit with pear and cherry, and a nice smooth mouthfeel. Juicy and energetic with a peppery edge. Youthful and primary but with real promise. 91/100
Roseblood d’Estoublon Rosé 2023 Coteaux Varois en Provence, France
12.5% alcohol. Aromatic and bright with notes of grapefruit, red cherry and a touch of aniseed. This is lively and focused in the mouth with bright flavours of orange peel, pernod and negroni as well as some bright citrus and cherry. Trying to be grown up rosé. 91/100
Château Grand Boise Jadis Rosé 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
12% alcohol. Organic and biodynamic. This is lively and bright with keen acidity sitting alongside sweet pear, cherry and lemon fruit. It’s grainy and intense with tart cranberry notes alongside riper red cherry notes. There’s finesse and detail here with potential for development. 91/100
Château Sainte Rosaline Lampe de Meduse 2023 Côtes de Provence
13% alcohol. Organic. Stylishly packaged with an interesting bottle shape. Juicy and refined with a spicy edge to the pear and mandarin fruit, with a hint of red cherry. Supple with nice spicy hints and a touch of wet stone minerality. Classy. 91/100
Roseline Prestige Rosé 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
13% alcohol
£19 Ocado
Very attractively packaged in an embossed glass bottle. Pale in colour this has nice primary aromas of pear drops and cherry, leading to a textured palate with pretty spice and mandarin as well as some lime and a twist of redcurrant. Very nice. 90/100
Château Ksara Sunset Rosé 2023 Lebanon
13.5% alcohol. 60% Cabernet Franc, 40% Syrah. This is quite a full red/pink in colour with bright aromatics of red cherry and a hint of nice green. In the mouth, this is juicy and energetic with redcurrant and cherry fruit as well as some citrus. Really fruity and appealing. 90/100
Caves d’Esclans Rock Angel 2022 Côtes de Provence, France
13.5% alcohol. This is really appealing with ripe pear and peach fruit, showing some richness and softness in the mouth, as well as sweet fruit. There’s some fine spicy detail, too. Generous, full and easy, and true to the style of Provence rosé with its soft mid-palate. 90/100
Les Jamelles Reflets Secrets Rosé 2023 Pays d’Oc, France
12.5% alcohol. Attractively packaged with a painted bottle and a Stelvin Lux. This is extremely pale and has really appealing citrus and pear fruit with a hint of cherry, with nice texture and mouthfeel. Lovely balance to this wine. 90/100
Asda Sancerre Rosé 2022 Loire, France
13% alcohol
£13.50 Asda
Pink with a hint of orange in colour. This is fruity and lively with a hint of creaminess and some green notes, as well as a core of bright cherry and pear fruit. Very stylish with a bit of bite on the finish. Has a nice acid line. 90/100
Rogers & Rufus Grenache of Barossa Rosé 2022 Australia
11.5% alcohol
£16 Latitude Wine, Auswineonline
Attractively packaged. Sandy soils in the Barossa give this a nice fruit focus. This is soft and easy, but also brightly fruited. Very pale in colour, it has nice cherry and lime fruit with a twist of orange peel and some nice smoothness on the mid-palate. Very appealing. 90/100
Château Ksara Gris de Gris 2023 Lebanon
13% alcohol. 60% Grenache Gris and 40% Carignan. Pale pink, this is overtly fruity with bright cherry and pear fruit, with a touch of redcurrant. Juicy and lively with nice fruit purity, finishing pleasantly tart and focused. 90/100
Frescobaldi Alìe Ammiraglia Rosé 2023 Toscana IGT, Italy
12% alcohol
£16.60 Vinvm
Pale in colour, this has a lively nose of grapefruit, watermelon and cherry. It’s light and delicate in the mouth with flavours of plums and pears, with a touch of lemon and mandarin on the finish. A really fine, delicate rosé with freshness on the finish. 90/100
Minuty Prestige Rosé 2023 Côtes de Provence, France
12.5% alcohol
£21 Clos19, Majestic
Very pale in colour. Subtle aromatics of cherry, aniseed and citrus. In the mouth this is light but very textural with a smooth cherry and pear character, and some fine spices on the finish. Pure and refined. 90/100
Jean Leon 3055 Rosé 2022 Penedès, Spain
12% alcohol
£15 Amazon, Simply Wines, Vinvum
Fruity and lively with nice citrus notes as well as some cherry and pear. This is textured and fine with nice weight. A stylish dry rosé with lovely balance, and a sense of lightness. 90/100
Altano Naturalmente Rosé 2023 Douro, Portugal
12.5% alcohol. Organic. This pale-colored rosé is lively and bright with some citrus and mandarin notes as well as a hint of red cherry. Good acidity keeps things fresh, and there’s a slight savoriness around the fringes that makes it gastronomic. Very appealing. 89/100
Atlantis Tinta Negra Rosé 2023 Madeirense, Portugal
11% alcohol
£15 Fareham Wine Cellar, Amazon, Harper Wells, Simply Wines Direct
This is made from Tinta Negra Mole, the main grape grown on the island of Madeira. This is lively, bright and energetic with a citrus core and then notes of mandarin and cherry, with lots of acidity. Fresh and appealing, with a tart finish. 89/100
Les Beates Les Béatines Rosé 2023 Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France
13% alcohol. Slightly fuller in color than many rosés, this is a really fruity wine, showing rounded cherry and pear notes with a warm, spicy finish. Very stylish and detailed, showing nice weight and balance. 89/100
Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2023 France
14.5% alcohol. This comes in a remarkable bottle that looks normal when full, but as you begin drinking you see the internal ridges swirling around. Very clever. It’s pale pink in colour and has rich, textured pear, mandarin, peach and cherry fruit with some lushness, punchy alcohol that adds sweetness and palate weight, yet it stays fresh. Delicious, smooth, textured rosé that works really well. 89/100
Mirabeau L’Atelier Forever Summer Rosé 2022 IGP Méditerranée, France
12.5% alcohol. This southern French rosé is pale in colour and delivers light, fruity notes of pear and cherry, with a twist of cranberry brightness. Lovely freshness here with a tingly mandarin and lemon finish. Has a little bit of dissolved carbon dioxide to help give freshness. 88/100
Warwick First Lady Dry Rosé 2023 Western Cape, South Africa
11.5% alcohol
£13 Hard to Find Wines, Savanna, Vinvm
Nicely packaged with an elegant label. This is bright with good acidity and some creamy underpinnings to the sweet pear, citrus and cherry fruit. Very attractive with a bit of spicy bite. 88/100
Ricasoli Albia Rosé 2023 Toscana IGT, Italy
13% alcohol. £15 Vinvm, Paul Adams Fine Wines
Spicy and lively with nice bright cherry and redcurrant fruit, leading to a grippy finish with some tannic bite. Distinctive, with some of Sangiovese’s savouriness. 88/100
Ramón Bilbao Rosado 2023 Rioja, Spain
12.5% alcohol
£8.75 Co-op
Pale orange pink in colour, this has a turmeric-like spicy edge to the layered pear and citrus fruit, with just a hint of red cherry indicating its red-grape origins. Dry and nicely balanced, this is a food-friendly rosé of real appeal. 88/100
Belle Année by Mirabeau Rosé 2023 Vin de France
12.5% alcohol. Berry fruits and some citrus brightness here in this light, delicate rosé which shows nice fruit, and finishes with some pithy orange peel bite, keeping the sweet fruit in focus. Has real drikability. 87/100 (£9 Tesco)