Home Winners > Winners 2016 > Rosé above £5.50

Winner Details

Rosé above £5.50

2016 Gold: 2 Silver: 9 Bronze: 8 Commended: 9
2015 Gold: 1 Silver: 7 Bronze: 10 Commended: 13

After last year’s rotten performance, Rosé did far better this year, probably because France was showing wines from a decent summer (2015) rather than the joyless 2014 vintage. The country took half the medals here, with the South putting in a pretty good display, and there was lots of positive feedback for Brand Provence. Somms might not, for the most part, care much about the wine either way, but the public clearly does, which means good margins for venues.

The only downside of the Provence revolution is the impact it’s had on the rest of the world. Everyone, it seems, is making pale pink, southern French-style rosé, sometimes at the expense of character and flavour. Though given how the consumers like oeil de perdrix, it would be a brave (possibly foolhardy) producer who went back to dayglo pink, no matter what our teams might think.

FROM THE TASTING TEAMS

‘Provence rosé is a brand. People come in and ask specifically for it. So I have to have one, it has to have a big enough structure to go with food, and it has to be pretty – the colour and the bottle.’ Sara Bacchiori, Chez Bruce

‘The fashionable nature of pale Provence rosé is having a negative effect on the winemaking styles of rosé. I’d like to see a little bit more concentration of fruit and a little less emphasis on a fashionable colour.’ Natasha Hughes MW, team leader

‘They were a lot thinner than I expected. The ones that I enjoyed were more textured, not so light, with more complexity of aroma.’ Ignacio Campos, Hawksmoor Covent Garden

‘They still feel like a by-product of making red wine. Why aren’t people taking it more seriously?’ Andrés Ituarte, Avenue Restaurant

‘Even in the winter it sells. Sales are steady – there is demand for good rosé all year round.’ Andrea Briccarello, team leader

“Sometimes we sell rosé out of season; it’s a brand in its own right, and we’re seeing more interest in magnums.” Kelvin McCabe, Yauatcha City

“It’s harder to find a good rosé than a good red or a good white.” Victor Amaro, Hotel du Vin Tunbridge

FOOTNOTE: Rosés under £5.50 can be entered into the House Rosé category.

Award winners

Found 28 wines

Rosé - > £5.50

Konrad, Hole in The Water, Sauvignon Blanc Blush 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand

Gold medal winner

Mid-orange in colour, this zingy, rounded wine offers something distinctive, scoring it Gold in the process. 'Nice, fresh, spicy and fruity nose, restrained in style with a very interesting palate,' began consultant sommelier Dominique Raclin, while team leader Sarah Jane Evans MW enjoyed its 'oxidised/salmon colour, grapefruit aromas and pink grapefruit palate', concluding: 'Unexpected, and not typical.'

£7.99 Frederic Robinson

Château Gassier, Le Pas du Moine, Côtes de Provence Ste-Victoire 2015, Provence, France

Gold medal winner

Minerality and a plentiful variety of red berries – think raspberries and loganberries for starters – set this wine apart, lifting it to Gold. 'Very modern style, but bright and attractive,' began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, while Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce noted 'greengage and herbaceous aromas, strawberry and raspberry palate with a soft, dry finish', and Julien Sahut of Sexy Fish said: 'Peach, apricot, mango and honeyscukle – well balanced.'

£10.75 Enotria&Coe

Spy Valley, Rosé 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand

Silver medal winner

'Floral and aromatic on the nose, with notes of citrus and orange blossom echoed on the palate, which is medium-bodied and doesn't lack acidity, accompanied by a floral finish,' said Ignacio Campos of Hawksmoor Seven Dials.' 'Great value,' said James Hocking of The Vineyard Group, noting 'some good complexity, crisp, ripe red fruit, great acidity in perfect balance with a persistent finish'.

£10.46 Bibendum

Château de Campuget, 1753, Syrah/Vermentino Rosé, Costières de Nîmes 2015, Rhône, France

Silver medal winner

'Pleasant on the eye, but a structured, serious wine,' began Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering, continuing: 'Provence-style, it develops very well on the mid-palate. A lovely wine with salads and light summer buffets.' 'Herbs, berries, crisp acid and some depth, with stone fruit on the finish,' confirmed team leader Natasha Hughes MW.

£9.74 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Château l'Ermitage, Rosé Tradition, Costières de Nîmes 2015, Rhône, France

Silver medal winner

'Pale colour, Provence-style, fruity on the palate and fresh. Good value,' said Enikő Heidenwolf of 67 Pall Mall, with FJB Collection's Charles Van Wyk agreeing: 'Attractive primary strawberry notes with refreshing lemon acidity.' James Hocking of The Vineyard Group noted the 'nice mouthfeel and long finish'.

£6.15 Boutinot

Günter & Regina Triebaumer, Rosé of Blaufränkisch, Reserve 2014, Burgenland, Austria

Silver medal winner

Ivan Vegas of Fox Fine Wines & Spirits highlighted its 'delicate nose, fruity ripeness on the palate and good freshness on the finish', while team leader Natasha Hughes MW noted: 'Juicy, easy-drinking, crisp style with some leafy red and blackcurrant fruit, and a touch of residual sugar.'

£8.20 Alpine Wines

Veramonte, Syrah Rosé 2015, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

'Strawberry-scented aromas followed by juicy citrus fruit on the palate with some complex jammy characters and a leafy, fresh finish,' said team leader Andrea Briccarello. 'Easy and accessible, light rosé,' added Nausicaa Rotoloni of Roka Mayfair.

£7.75 Matthew Clark

Château de St Baillon, Réserve du Château St Baillon, Rosé 2014, Provence, France

Silver medal winner

'Salty minerals with a creamy texture and savoury on the palate with red fruits. Good length,' said Kelvin McCabe of Yauatcha City. 'More restrained style, minerals with redcurrant fruit and yeasty lees notes,' added team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

£10.39 Bibendum

Mas de Cadenet, Rosé, Côtes de Provence Ste-Victoire 2015, Provence, France

Silver medal winner

'Pear drop and light strawberry aromas with floral hints, salty minerals and grippy, with great crunchy fruit. Long on the palate with moreish salinity on the finish,' said Kelvin McCabe of Yauatcha City, while team leader Olivier Marie noted: 'Rosewood with musky animalesque character, but still beautifully pristine. Great balance.'

£13.49 ABS Wine Agencies

Badet Clément, La Promenade Rosé 2015, Provence, France

Silver medal winner

'Fragrant, perfumed nose, dry and structured palate with a salty mineral edge and a long, full finish,' said Kelvin McCabe of Yauatcha City, while Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce found it a 'gourmand style with notes of wet wool, geranium florals and strawberry fruit with a good, dry finish'. 'Ethereal, with an elegant balletic finish,' concluded team leader Olivier Marie, adding: 'Great wine.'

£6.48 Molson Coors

CVNE, Viña Real, Rosado 2015, Rioja, Spain

Silver medal winner

'Aromatic on the nose, with blossom floral notes, savoury and fresh, crispy and long,' began Tate Britain's Gustavo Medina, with team leader Natasha Hughes MW adding: 'Very pale, simple red berry style with a touch of greenness. Crisp, with modest concentration,' and Owen Morgan of Bar 44 noting 'lovely fruit on the nose, a good, dry rosé'.

£6.72 Hatch Mansfield

Château des Demoiselles, Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2015, Provence, France

Bronze medal winner

'Pale salmon colour with a quietly restrained mineral edge. Lovely and sophisticated,' said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce finding a 'clean but simple, savoury, mineral, floral nose'.

£8.95 More Sake

Bouchon Family, J Bouchon, Reserva, Rosé 2015, Maule Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

'Well made, showing aromas of fresh red apple with notes of green pepper and asparagus. Crisp, clean and refreshing,' said Charles Van Wyk of FJB Collection, while Victor Amaro of Hotel du Vin Tunbridge found 'rose petal aromas with a clean, mineral finish'.

£7.50 Bancroft Wines

Camel Valley, Pinot Noir Rosé 2014, England

Bronze medal winner

'Fragrant nose of rose petals and Turkish delight, but dry on the palate with red berry freshness, good balance and fruit intensity,' said team leader Andrea Briccarello, while Owen Morgan of Bar 44 noted: 'A little richer than most, with strawberry, lemon and citrus on the nose, a good mouthfeel and a pleasant crispness.'

£9.95 Matthew Clark, Camel Valley, St Austell Brewery

St André de Figuière, Le St André, Rosé 2015, Provence, France

Bronze medal winner

'Pleasantly clean and crisp, with salmon colour, citrus aromas and strawberry-cherry fruit on the palate,' began Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce, with Dario Barbato of Individual Restaurants finding 'fresh strawberry and citrus with a bitter almond twist, some sapidity and a lingering finish'.

£8.65 Jascots Wine Merchants

Bartolomeo Breganze, Le Colline di San Giorgio, Pinot Grigio Rosé 2015, Veneto, Italy

Bronze medal winner

'Strawberry and rose petals on the nose,' began Georgi Mihov of Bohemia Bar and Restaurant, continuing: 'Medium body with the fruit echoing the aromas, a slight note of bitterness but pleasant on the finish.' 'Summer wine on the lawn, delightful,' added Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering.

£5.62 Majestic Commercial

Mas de Cadenet, Arbaude, Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2015, Provence, France

Bronze medal winner

'Fruit-driven, red berry style, bone dry with fresh acidity,' began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Sara Bacchiori of Chez Bruce adding: 'MIneral, savoury nose, strawberry, cranberry and pomegranate on a clean, dry, lengthy palate. Pretty and well made.'

£11.99 Enotria&Coe, ABS Wine Agencies

Lyme Bay Winery, Pinot Noir Rosé 2014, Devon, England

Bronze medal winner

'Fruity, floral and delicate on the nose, with violets and garden berries dominating the palate. Well balanced and elegant on the finish,' said Andrés Ituarte of Avenue Restaurant, while Ignacio Campos of Hawksmoor Seven Dials noted its 'leafy, orange pith, floral and citrus' characters.

£10.07 Christopher Piper Wines, Templar Wines

Orsogna, Ramoro, Terre di Chieti 2015, Abruzzo, Italy

Bronze medal winner

Described as 'strawberry blonde' in the literature, this rich, fruit-driven rosé is biodynamic, and predominantly crafted from Pinot Grigio, with a creamy texture and bright cherry notes on the nose.

£9.42 Cantina Orsogna

Costaripa, RosaMara, Valtènesi Rosé 2014, Lombardy, Italy

Commended medal winner

£10.02 Alivini

Príncipe de Viana, Edición Rosa 2015, Navarra, Spain

Commended medal winner

Santo Isidro de Pegões , Stella, Rosado 2015, Península de Setúbal , Portugal

Commended medal winner

Pianirossi , Il Rosé di Sabine 2014, Tuscany , Italy

Commended medal winner

£10.50 Eurowines

Château Ste Roseline , Lampe de Méduse Rosé, Cru Classé, Côtes de Provence 2014, Provence , France

Commended medal winner

Domaine Montrose , Mon Rosé de Montrose, Pays d'Oc 2015, Languedoc, France

Commended medal winner

Domaine Hubert Brochard , Sancerre Rosé 2014, Loire , France

Commended medal winner

£9.99 Greene King

Advini des Vignobles et des Hommes, Ormilles Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2015, Provence, France

Commended medal winner

Château la Verrerie, Rosé, Luberon 2015, Rhône, France

Commended medal winner

£11.00 Liberty Wines