We’re not sure if we actually like rosé, or if we just like the idea of rosé. We only consume it in the most beautiful and serene places, under optimal weather conditions, so it’s kind of hard to say whether it’s the taste, the setting, or the mood that it evokes that makes us reach for this pretty pink libation. Think about it: where does the jet set drink rosé? In Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, St. Tropez, Marrakesh, and Croatia. At the yacht club; in Cabo San Lucas; in Provence.
Wherever you’re headed this summer, you’ll probably find yourself buying a bottle or two, whether for yourself or as a gift to a gracious host or hostess. There are thousands of options from which to choose, ranging from the very affordable to the stratospherically expensive. Most are made from the classic rosé grapes (Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Carignan and Sangiovese) but wineries are experimenting with new grapes all the time.
If you want to impress, take note that Provence, France is the consensus choice as the source of the best high-end rosé – and within Provence, the sub-region of Bandol produces the highest-rated French rosés (meaning, you basically cannot go wrong if you choose one from there).
With such an overwhelming number of choices, we decided to cull the list by focusing on 16 luxurious rosé wines and champagnes (all of them $25 or more). Some are new this summer, and some are iconic classics.
There are plenty of sound choices below $25, but when you’re ready to step up your rosé game, consider one of these bottles. They’ll look lovely in a sterling silver ice bucket, and their contents will be even lovelier in your best crystal champagne flutes.
1. Diving Into Hampton Water 2017 is a French wine, but it’s named after the posh Long Island summer retreat. It’s the result of a collaboration between award-winning French winemaker Gérard Bertrand and 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jon Bon Jovi and his son, Jesse Bongiovi. Hampton Water wine is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah; before bottling, the wine sits in French oak for 30 days. While many were initially skeptical about other celebrity-driven beverage, this one is winning rave reviews. One expert described it as “light, elegant, savory, and delicious, with a very droll label. A must-try. “$25.
2. Gundlach-Bundschu Rhinefarm Rosé from Sonoma, CA is only available at the winery or for members of its Bacchus Wine Club. This primarily Pinot Noir blend is a saignée wine – this method helps maintain a lighter style by keeping the fruit on its skins for 24 hours, resulting in a very light, French-style rosé. The current release is very dry, with “layers of coastal strawberries and green apples intermingled with a seductive pinch of confectioner’s sugar.” The winery adds that “the light bodied palate has lively flavors of lime-driven citrus and tart red fruits that are contrasted by a surprisingly creamy texture.” $25.
3. Liquid Farm Vogelzang Vineyard Rosé, Happy Canyon, CA, 2017. This Bandol- and Provence-inspired rosé of 95% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache is one of the few domestic rosés that is barrel-fermented in neutral oak (as opposed to stainless tanks). The grapes are pressed as soon as they arrive to the winery, and bottled after only 5 months of aging. The result is a wine that’s crisp, clean, and refreshing. $26.
4. Château Léoube Secret Rosé. Awarded a gold medal at the World Rosé Awards, the Léoube is not actually a secret. The organic blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet-Sauvignon grapes results in a crisp, dry finish with subtle notes of pear. This is a good option to enjoy with food, pairing well with grilled meats, fish, salads and fruit desserts. $28
5. Tablas Creek, Rosé Dianthus, Adelaida District, 2017 is a blend of three estate-grown varietals (Mourvèdre, Grenache and Counoise) propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate. Dianthus refers to a genus of flowering plants known for their deep pink blossoms and known colloquially to gardeners as “pinks.” Wine Spectator scores it at 90, and notes that this wine has “a refined and focused style, with elegant raspberry, smoky spice and orange peel flavors that linger.” $30.
6. Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 The cooling influences of the San Pablo Bay and Pacific Ocean allow for delicate maturation of the grapes and retention of the bright flavors of the Pinot Noir grapes in this rosé. Traditionally salmon-colored, turning to a brilliant light pink, this rosé offers aromas of fresh strawberries, blood orange, cherry and cranberry with notable flavors echoing the aromas, including citrus notes and juicy watermelon. $32.
7. Provenance Calistoga Malbec Rosé 2017 offers an elegant, pale-rose hue and aromas of berry, rose water and fragrant Turkish delight candy. It’s perfect for picnics, especially with a baguette and cheese, or fresh main-dish salads or grilled chicken and fish on the deck or patio. $32.
8. Tamber Bey Rosé, Fore Family Vineyard, Red Hills Lake County, 2017. The 16-acre Fore Family Vineyard is one of the highest-elevation vineyards in Lake County’s Red Hills AVA, at 3,000 feet. The dramatic, high-elevation volcanic hillsides of this region produce intense mountain fruit with great color and structure. Made of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache grapes, the winery describes this rosé as having “notes of strawberry rhubarb, white peach and hibiscus evolving into scents of cream soda and bright Bing cherries. The mouthfeel has layers of rose petal, cotton candy and watermelon flesh.” Wine Spectator decrees it to be “precise and bold, with savory spice flavors as well as watermelon and strawberry notes.” $32.
Photographer: Brooke Hadfield, Bloom Photography
9. Pursued By Bear ‘Blushing Bear’ Rosé, Washington, 2017. Crisp and dry, this pale pink wine from Kyle MacLachlan’s Columbia Valley label has a wonderful balance of fruit and minerality. Dunham Cellars and MacLachlan collaborated to create Pursued By Bear, which produces small runs of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and this rosé, which is blended from Mourvedre, Grenache and Cinsault grapes. These wines tend to sell out quickly, so if you see a bottle, definitely grab it. $33.
10. Chateau d’Esclans “Rock Angel” Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France, 2017. Situated in the cool hills of Provence, Château D’Esclans has been owned and operated by Sacha Lichine since 2006. He launched the luxury Provence rosé category with his $100 Garrus rosé more than 10 years ago. The winery’s Whispering Angel is one of the best-known names in rosé, priced at a reasonable $22 per bottle. If you love that, you’ll probably also love this new offering from the same producer. Rock Angel combines primarily Grenache with some Rolle (a.k.a. Vermentino) grapes. Partially barrel-fermented for added richness, it has a silky-satiny texture, pops of bright red berry fruit, citrus, and mineral. $35.
11. Bedell Cellars Sparkling Rosé 2017 is a unique handcrafted blend of grapes (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot) grown sustainably on the winery’s estate on the North Fork of Long Island. Delicate, fresh, and lively, it’s a fun wine with a serious edge. Howard Goldberg of The New York Times said “This feather-light blend plays a game: its delicately candied aroma seems to promise sweet flavors, but is followed by a strikingly brisk dryness on the palate.” It has notes of guava and cranberry, with a “sea breeze minerality;” the label showcases art from April Gornik. $45.
12. Veuve Clicquot Rosé is a vibrant wine with shimmering pink and copper tones, boasting a bouquet of red fruits like raspberry and strawberry floating over biscuit and pastry aromas. The Maison is celebrating 200 years of creating the first blended rose this year. In 1818, Madame Barbe-Nicole Clicquot created the first blended rose by combining red wine and champagne. This full-bodied wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes sourced across 60 Crus, and incorporates some reserve wines aged up to nine years. $60.
Photographer: Brooke Hadfield, Bloom Photography
13. G.H.Mumm Grand Cordon Rosé, launched earlier this year at Art Central Hong Kong, is a deliberate challenge to traditional rosé champagne, created by Cellar Master Didier Mariotti. A blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, it’s described as “lively and refreshing,” with Pinot Noir dominating the blend, comprising 60% of the grapes used selected from the Champagne house’s most prestigious villages. The wine is aged two years in the cellar. $62.
14. 2006 Bollinger Rosé, Bollinger’s first limited-edition rosé, is aged 10 years and is a mix of wines sourced from one Premier vineyard and nine Grand Cru vineyard. Predominantly Pinot Noir (72%), the wine also features Chardonnay. $140.
15. Perrier-Jouët Belle-Epoque 2006. Maison Perrier-Jouët is one of France’s most historic and distinctive champagne houses, renowned for its elegant floral champagnes that it produces as unique works of art. This sparkling rose has the aromas of red fruits (red currants, raspberries and pomegranate) combined with blood orange and grapefruit, followed by hints of nuts, brioche, honey and caramel. The blend is 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier. $195.
16. Krug Rosé 21st Edition. Krug Grande Rosé is a blend of 57 wines, aged from 2000-08, and bottled in 2016. It carries flavors of dried white cherry and apricot, Mandarin orange peel, espresso and honey, with an expansive finish of exotic clove and cardamom spice. You can drink it anytime between now and 2021. Each bottle comes with a Krug ID, which when typed into Krug.com, delivers that bottle’s particular story, along with food pairing and musical selections. Bottle 316033, for example, shines next to scorpion fish, foie gras and even an intense curry. $299.
There you have it: a luxurious rosé for every weekend between now and the start of the autumn. Cheers!
