8. Les Clans Château d’Esclans 2016
The style: Dry, barrel-aged rosé
The medal: Gold
The score: 94
The price: Approx £30-50
The sugar content: 1.3 g/l
The ABV: 14%
The closure: Cork
The producer: Château d’Esclans – Domaines Sacha Lichine
The source: Côtes de Provence, France
The grape varieties: 54% Grenache, 33% Vermentino
The taste: The younger brother of Garrus – the range-topping rosé from Château d’Esclans – Les Clans delivers a little less toasty oak and complexity, but a bit more colour than its pricier older sibling. Nevertheless, relative to Garrus, Les Clans appears good value, with some its creamy oak and warming red berry fruit at half the cost. Les Clans also has an appealing sweet and sour lemon curd character. While it is delicious on its own, it could happily complement white meat or fish-based dishes.
