Wine Region: Provence

(2025) I have to say I always enjoy this big brother to the Whispering Angel, Rock Angel made from estate-grown fruit at Chateau d'Esclans (Grenache and Rolle), and partly barrel-fermented. That adds no perceptible 'oaky' quality beyond a slight creaminess to the aromas that are otherwise of ripe but keen red berries and hint of peach. In the mouth it is pleasingly fruity - plenty of buoyant, ripe and quite fleshy fruit - but there is some structure here. Acidity is defined, and there's a hint of spicy tannin, perhaps from the fruit, perhaps from the barrel, but adding a pleasing edge of chalky grip to the otherwise summer flavours. Rather good once again.

(2025) A blend of selected Grenache and Rolle which have been sorted three times via optical sorting and manual sorting tables. It is made from free-run juice and gentle first pressing, fermented and aged in large oak barrels. A little depth to the colour and vinous aromas, fresh and grapey, but delicate too, a little peach down, freshness of raspberry and a background hint of cedary spices. There's plenty of texture on the palate, a creaminess that fills the mouth. Sweet fruit is reminiscent of strawberry and peach, but with a limey citrus pushing through. Quite powerful and intense, the spice reassert lightly in the finish.

(2025) The range-topping 'Collector' is a blend of Grenache and Cinsault from the estate's best vineyard parcels. Free-run juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks and given several months ageing on the lees. There's certainly a creaminess on the nose from that, along with quite intense, small red berry fruit. There's a hint of spice and a hint of something like Parma violet. In the mouth the 14% alcohol gives a robustness, combining with acidity to give quite serious grip despite the fruit being so delicately handled at fermentation. Long, savoury and spicy.

(2025) At time of review deals on the big brother to this wine, Whispering Angel itself, actually brought them in at the same price and for me there's no contest that whilst this is very pleasant, it's a step or two down. From Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence it is pale and refined with a rose petal and bob-bon character, moving on to a palate that is balanced but a little dilute compared to the concentration of the very good Whispering Angel 2024.

(2025) A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from some of the appellation's highest vineyards at 420m above sea level. Delicate and fruity, raspberry and marshmallow spring to mind, the palate following on with a dry, gastronomic character, small red berries but a very clean mineral and lemon finish.

(2025) The blend of Grenache, Cinsault & Cabernet Sauvignon (I guess the Cabernet is the 'secret?) Is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. It's a pink with 14% alcohol and a bit of presence for sure. Peachy fruit aromas and citrus, but a distinct stony minerality. The palate has a robustness, a touch phenolic, a hint of tannin maybe to the concentrated, lightly saline acidity.

(2025) The 2024 Rosé de Léoube is an organic blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre, obviously ripe as it weighs in with 14% alcohol. Very pale in colour, sweet Parma violet and bon-bon fruit is elegant, and yes, a little hint of something herby and mineral to steady the ship. In the mouth it has a substantial fruit sweetness and ripeness, quite a full body, but fine balance as the acidity asserts, not aggressively, but cleansing and propelling the finish. Stylish.

(2025) The La Coste estate is a must-see if visiting the Aix-en-Provence area, for the outstanding art and architecture spread throughout its vineyards. I haven't always been so impressed by the wines I confess. This blend of organic certified Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah has a pleasant sense of creaminess and almondy richness to summer berry fruit. Fruity and pleasant on the mid-palate, I find a just marginally cloying character in the finish - I am not sure if there is significant sugar, but it just lacks ultimate freshness whilst being perfectly quaffable.

(2025) Striking in its metallic purple paint-dipped bottle, this blend of 85% Grenache with Syrah 15% is Minuty's prestige cuvée. It is among the palest of this year's crop of Provence pinks, and is quite headily perfumed with wild strawberry and elderflower, rose-hip and a hint of peach. In the mouth it is very much fruit-forward, and though it hints at sweetness, with only 1g/l of residual sugar it is not: the finish is dry, and after a mid-palate suggestion of pulpy, creamy soft red fruits the acidity is tingling and refreshing.

(2025) A blend of 70% Grenache with Syrah, Rolle and Cinsault using grapes from partner growers and 60% from the estate's owned plots. Very pale, there's less of the tutti-frutti character here as it adopts a more lean and gastronomic stance, with citrus and just a touch of floral red fruits. Though it appears to be bone-dry in the finish, there is a mid-palate richness, fruit sweetness and silky weight to the wine. Now Minuty's most popular cuvee in France apparently. House of Malt's price of £17.99 seems keen, as others including Majestic and Laithwaites.