Wine Type: Dry Rosé

(2025) Reviewed August 2025 in the dog days heat of summer, this very refreshing, gently sherbetty pink Vinho Verde went down a storm with guests in the garden. Made from the seldom seen Espadeiro grape, granite soils are said to boost the wine's mineral edge. Strawberry bon bon fruit on the nose leads to a palate that is very juicy, that lemon sherbet and Epsom salts brightness to the acidity, plus it's modest 11% alcohol, making for a lightweight summer sipper with broad crowd-pleasing appeal. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) The very reliable Les Dauphins brand offers this blend of 85% Grenache with Syrah and a touch of Cinsault with grapes sourced from clay-limestone and stony soils around the village of Tulette. It has a pretty pinky-peach colour and fruity nose, where a little touch of Bazooka Joe confectionery joins ripe red berries. The palate is well balanced, with a dry and quite savoury finish, but no shortage of ripe berry fruit and a clean, lemon zest acidity. A well made wine at a modest price.

(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 rainy winter and a strong spring frost in Rioja was followed by a moderate summer that favoured ripening. This is a blend of 80% Garnacha and 20% Viura from vineyards at 500 to 770 metres altitude. It had just three hours of skin contact yet the colour is a nicely bold pink. On the nose little potpourri scents, floral, with light raspberry fruit. In the mouth it is dry and fruit-forward, but there is acid and a hint of roughening tannin in the background to give gastronomic appeal.

(2025) An atypically dark rosé by contemporary standards, a blend of 75% Pinot Noir with the resistant Cabernet Noir. It's a very dry, savoury style this, small, tight red berry fruits, citrus and a whisp of something smoky perhaps. In the mouth similarly fresh and dry, driven more by acidity than fruit arguably, but that ensures it is crisp and zesty.

(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) A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, this has a bold cherry colour. Small, dry berries like cranberry and reducurrant on the nose, a little hint of rose petals and creaminess. In the mouth this is a sweet and forward style, juiciness bolstered by a touch of residual sugar. Hints of spice and the finish shows good balancing acidity. Tasted previously with a similar note and score.

(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) This Vin de France is another lighter wine, both in colour and its 12% alcohol. I believe it is based on Grenache and Cinsault and comes mostly from the Languedoc. Quite neutral, though some pretty red berry fruit in there and just a hint of confectionery. In the mouth balance is pretty good, though it has a touch of sweetness. There is something about this wine that always feels a little too confected for me, though it is a crowd-pleasing summer-in-the-garden sipper.

(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.