House Wine: Rosé
2019 GOLD: 1 SILVER: 3 BRONZE: 2 COMMENDED: 10
2018 GOLD: 1 SILVER: 4 BRONZE: 3 COMMENDED: 5
In some categories, our tasters are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting wines for the Gold List. But House Rosé emphatically isn’t one of them. There were some absolute shockers in here, and a huge number of submissions were removed in the first round of judging.
What was left was better, but still patchy, with sugar the main problem. It is, perhaps, asking too much to expect Provence-style elegance at sub-£6 prices, but something approaching competent winemaking – or even a bit of sensitivity – would have been a start.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘Why is rosé such a difficult wine to get to grips with? There was residual sugar in some of these – it’s supposed to be a light, fresh, tantalising wine.’ Angela Reddin, team leader
‘The wines that stay close to the southern French style tend to do the best.’ James Fryer, Woodhead 17
‘This flight was an example of why professionals look down on rosé as a style. The wines were foul.’ Jan Konetzki, team leader
‘Totally flabby, no backbone… some were just rose water. They’d be no good with food.’ Leonie Loudon, consultant
‘A trend of washed-out fruit flavour. Only one stood out.’ Savvas Symeonidis, Gymkhana Restaurant