Caves d'Esclans, Whispering Angel Provence Rosé
Chateau d'Esclans has rather taken the world of rosé wine by storm, their superb portfolio of wines from the sun-kissed vineyards of Provence starting modestly at under £10 per bottle, but their most ambitious top of the range cuvée selling for upwards of £70 per bottle - now that's quite something for a rosé wine!
Quality throughout really is terrific, not least in Whispering Angel, probably their most popular wine and a stunner year after year. Indeed, each Christmas I publish my 'Wines of the Year', in which I name just one favourite wine from a whole year's drinking in seven different categories. Last year the Rosé category was scooped by the 2014 vintage of Whispering Angel, and I have to say this 2015 is every bit as good.
It's a delicate, shimmering, but personality-packed pink with grapefruit and hints of peachiness against riveting acidity in a super-fresh, gastronomic but deliciously quaffable style, and it really is a Provence benchmark. Watch the video for food matching ideas and much more information.
Interestingly, this wine is on offer at time of writing 'en primeur' - you can buy a case now for £98, pay the VAT and duty when it is delivered before Easter, and the equivalent bottle price will be £12.89. That's a healthy saving on the £14.95 it will cost when it goes on sale by the normal channel in a couple of months.
£98 per dozen (£12.89 equivalent duty paid) FromVineyardsDirect.com
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