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Winner Details

House Wines: Rosé


2015: Gold 2 Silver 3 Bronze 3 Commended 6
2014: Gold 1 Silver 1 Bronze 5 Commended 2


Traditionally, the House Rosé category sees the kind of drop-out rate in the early stages of the competition more normally associated with a French university in the 1960s. And while there was, once again, something of a Bonfire of the Pinks in Round One, our tasters were much happier than usual – probably because the move to the pale-pink ‘Provence style’ has seen the death of many of the out-of-balance Sugar Monsters. There was a lot more elegance and balance here than a few years ago.


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


From the Tasting Teams


‘I still find this idea that rosé has to be pale to be a bit limiting. It just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially for a house wine under £5.’ Robert Tozser, The Rib Room

‘It’s really crucial to have a credible, flexible and vibrant rosé offer. It’s good to keep at least one all year and then list one entry wine, one very affordable example and one higher up in the middle of summer.’ Mya Brown, Vinoteca Marylebone

‘With people increasingly drinking rosé throughout the year, it’s worth listing more than one rosé to allow them to explore.’ Claire Love, Love’s Restaurant

Award winners

Found 14 wines

House Wine: Rosé - <£5.50 ex-VAT

Cavit, Principato, Pinot Grigio Blush 2014, Veneto, Italy

Gold medal winner By the glass

Suppleness and subtlety helped Cavit scoop Gold with its Principato – and a coveted By The Glass spot. Riccardo Guzzardo of The Gilbert Scott found ‘interesting, floral notes of rose petals and little hints of spice’ on the nose, while team leader Jade Koch noted ‘apple, orange, clean minerality on an oily, textured, dry palate’, and Paolo Pivato of Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa summed it up: ‘Ideal as an aperitif, pleasant and great value for money.’

£5.00 Molson Coors

Adria Vini, Ancora, Monferrato Chiaretto 2014, Piedmont, Italy

Gold medal winner Pub & Bar

The ultimate crowd pleaser and a worthy Perfect Pub wine, this has a ‘nice copper colour and very appealing style’, said Michael Moore of Room 24, with Riccardo Guzzardo of The Gilbert Scott noting: ‘Floral and citrusy, with a little red fruit on the nose, dry and light, medium-bodied style.’ Elegant and textured with balance and good length, it's happy to go solo or would go well with beef dishes with a touch of spice.

£4.60 Boutinot

Boutinot, Montevista, Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2014, Maule Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘Pale as a rosé should be, and a beautiful aromatic nose,’ began consultant Caroline Symington, with Vinoteca Marylebone’s Mya Brown noting: ‘Strawberry and grapefruit aromas, bright, juicy grapefruit on the palate, with nice structure and a clean, dry, citrusy finish.’

£5.00 Boutinot

GCF Exclusif, Parlez-Vous, Cabernet Franc Rosé 2014, Vin de France, France

Silver medal winner

‘Currants, red apple and apple skin/green aromas on the nose, peppery and leafy on the palate, with a pleasant slight bitterness, but overall crisp, bright flavours and a clean finish,’ said a pleased Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone.

£4.90 HT White & Co, R.W Randalls, NWBG

Winery Exchange, Marques de Calado Rosé 2013, Cariñena, Spain

Silver medal winner

‘Clean, berry fruit profile, simple but fresh, dry and quaffable, balanced wine,’ said Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone, with Lukasz Walkowiak of Oxo Tower Restaurant adding: ‘Lots of fruit and a touch of spice on the nose, with herbal notes on a sweetish palate.’

£4.25 Majestic Commercial

Borsao, Gran Tesoro Rosado 2014, Campo de Borja, Spain

Bronze medal winner

’Intense aromas, fruit drops and raspberry, with strawberry notes on the palate, in an off-dry style,’ said team leader Olivier Marie, with Vinoteca Marylebone’s Mya Brown adding: ‘Expressive, fruity-floral style; fresh and very drinkable.’

£4.55 Molson Coors

Félix Solis, Ayrum, Tempranillo Rosado 2014, Valdepeñas, Spain

Bronze medal winner

‘Darker fruit, warmer climate feel, with dark strawberry, slightly jammy nose,’ began Oscar Miller of Vinoteca King's Cross, continuing: ‘Decent acidity, a good option for customers who prefer a slightly sweeter or riper rosé style.’

£5.00 Matthew Clark

LGI-Wines, Les Bêtes Rousses Rosé, Pays d'Hérault 2014, Languedoc, France

Bronze medal winner

‘Peachy, strawberry, red cherry fruit aromas, a touch of mango on the palate, with zesty grapefruit notes. Nice crunchy red fruit and pleasant acidity on the finish,’ commented Angelo Casali of The Duck & Rice.

£4.91 Laytons

Botter, Piazzi Rosato 2013, Sicily , Italy

Commended medal winner

Boutinot, El Tesoro, Bobal Rosado 2014, Utiel-Requena , Spain

Commended medal winner

£4.85 Boutinot

Borsao, Selección Rosado 2014, Campo de Borja , Spain

Commended medal winner

£4.55 Boutinot

Riptide, White Zinfandel 2013, California , USA

Commended medal winner

£4.43 Bibendum

Boutinot, Fide et Arte, Les Cerisiers, Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2014, Rhône , France

Commended medal winner

£5.50 Boutinot

Boutinot, Pasquiers, Grenache/Cinsault Rosé, Pays d'Oc 2013, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

£4.90 Boutinot