HOUSE WINES: Rosé

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Winner Details

2016 Gold: 2 Silver: 2 Bronze: 4 Commended: 6
2015 Gold: 2 Silver: 3 Bronze: 3 Commended: 6

House rosé is one of the most consistently difficult categories in the Sommelier Wine Awards, so to get two decent – and very different – examples on the Gold List was not bad going. It’s just our tasters had to kiss a lot of pink frogs before finding their Rosé Prince Charmings…

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘There was a nice cross-section of styles, from dry to off-dry to sweet. We have to remember that someone who is used to drinking cocktails is going to like a sweeter, more confected style.’ Mya Brown, The Ledbury

‘A house rosé only needs to do two things: to taste of red fruit, like strawberries, and to have some freshness. If you can’t get fruit flavours in the wine, don’t bother making it!’ Jonathan Kleeman, Social Eating House

FOOTNOTE: The price limit for House Wine is £5.50 ex-VAT.

Award winners

Found 14 wines

House Wine: Rosé - <£5.50 ex-VAT

The Wine People, Frederico, Pinot Grigio Blush 2015, Veneto, Italy

'It's the balance, the aromas and the vinous nature of this dry rosé that sets it apart,' said team leader Martin Lam of this Gold winner. Mya Brown of The Ledbury applauded the 'citrus and rose petal nose, dry, clean palate with peach and pear drop fruit and balanced freshness', while Devon Pryor of Blandford Comptoir enjoyed its 'delicacy on the nose'.

£5.19 Frederic Robinson

Jeanjean, Domaine Le Pive, Gris, Sable de Camargue 2015, Languedoc, France

Pale salmon in colour but seductive and refreshing in the glass, this won Gold for its well-structured palate, fruity style and dry finish.

'Quite a tight, high-acid style,' began team leader Sam Caporn MW, while Matthew Cocks of WineEd found: 'Tart fruit, green strawberry and red apple fruit.'

£5.49 Molson Coors

Foncalieu, Le Sanglier de la Montagne, Carignan/Cinsault Rosé 2015, Vin de France, France

'Delicate, good quality, very pretty style with garrigue herb notes and very light garden berry flavours on the palate,' said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant, with consultant Sumita Sarma also finding 'tangy, long finesse and good structure'.

£5.28 Cockburn & Campbell

Badet Clément, La Cour des Dames, Grenache Rosé 2015, Languedoc, France

'Delicate floral nose, white peach, mineral and fresh. Fantastic value,' said Mya Brown of The Ledbury, with Matthew Cocks of WineEd adding: 'Pale enough to appeal to ladies who lunch. Soft and refreshing, elicits a second glass,' and Lionel Periner of The Lucky Onion noting 'delicate red fruit aromas and a dry, long finish'.

£4.66 Molson Coors

Minini, Il Caggio, Pinot Grigio Rosé 2015, Veneto, Italy

'Open and floral with rose petal notes and cherry aromas, clean and fresh on the palate with good fruit,' said Tobias Brauweiler MS of Hakkasan Group.

'Hard to fault at under £4 for a light-bodied, strawberry-fruited red,' added Avenue Restaurant's Andrés Ituarte.

£3.80 Kingsland

Moncaro, Rosaspina, Marche Rosato NV, Marche, Italy

'Beautifully expressive and fabulous structure,' began consultant Sumita Sarma, continuing: 'Strawberry and cranberry fruit with elegant vanilla oak touches and a soft pepper influence. Great value.'

£5.15 Eurowines

Lahoz, Monte Grande, Blush, Tierra de Castilla 2015, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Consultant Sumita Sarma admired the 'beautiful salmon colour, with cherry and cranberry aromas backed by citrus notes, refreshing acidity on the palate and a bubblegum after-note'.

£4.69 Frederic Robinson

Bibendum Wine, The Bulletin, Zinfandel Rosé 2014, California, USA

'Vivid candied watermelon, a riot in a glass!' began WineEd's Matthew Cocks, continuing: 'Medium sweet, not even off-dry. This style gets made for one reason: people do drink it.'
'Lots of fragrant squashed strawberries and cherry drops, with good balance,' agreed team leader Sam Caporn MW.

£4.86 Bibendum

Winner Details