1. Rock Angel Château d’Esclans 2017
The style: Dry part barrel-fermented rosé
The medal: Gold
The score: 93
The price: Approx £20-30
The sugar content: 0.8 g/l
The ABV: 14%
The closure: Cork
The producer: Château d’Esclans – Domaines Sacha Lichine
The source: Provence, France
The grape varieties: 47% Grenache, 23% Vermentino, 13% Syrah
The taste: Bedrock of the barrel-fermented rosés in the Château d’Esclans range, this is the cheapest of this Provençal producer’s more grown-up textural pinks. More soft-rock than punk, it is gently creamy in taste and texture with ripe peachy fruit flavours and a pure, crisp lemon-zest edge.