Les Clans from Chateau D'esclans 2006 Rosé from the Cotes de Provence
( 80% of the wine produced in Provence is rosé) made by Domaine Sacha Lichine, this is a bottle that had hidden at the back of some boxes and we had not intended to leave it so long!
The bottle of this delightful wine is a beautiful sight on its own, clear glass to admire the wonderful salmon/onion skin colour, and an impressed emblem on the front.
Once poured and admired we commented on its viscosity, it has a 'thickness' to its flow, this alone made us want to dive in, but once we had popped our noses in the glass, we were sold again!
It has a nutty pear aroma with a slight herbal note, the grapes in this blend are Grenache ( 48% are 80 year old vines) and Rolle.
The texture of this wine along reinforces the fact that this wine has been carefully and beautifully made, the acidity is freshning keeping the fruit remaining fresh and clean, it has a fattness too it and without the acidity it may tend to flabbiness - which this wine definetly does not! The alcohol is warming but in balance and adds structure to the blend, the tannins are very low, ripe and silky. There is a spicy note encapsulating the pear, peach and pithy citric, herbal flavours. The finish is good and long having a pithy bitter end which runs alongside lemon.
This is a truly beautiful wine, the lack of fruit is a shame, we had tasted this for the first time 2 years ago (it is aged for 2-3 years before it is released) - and it was singing - but this had a certain maturity and some savouriness that has emerged that adds to its complexity, so maybe somethings are meant to be and the accident was to our benefit.
Sacha Lichine purchased Chateau d'Esclans in 2006 and brought in Patrick Leon (formerly of Mouton Rothschild) as winemaker to start making the world's best rosé ( Jancis Robinson) and also to prove that rosés can be wines to be taken seriously. Ch d'Esclans make four roses; their signature cuvee 'Whispering Angel' ( which is stunning - and I actually prefer it) vinified in stainless steel, the slightly weightier 'Esclans' which is part vinified in oak which adds to both its weight and structure and then the two seriously punchy efforts in the 'Les Clans' and micro-cuvee 'Garrus.'
Les Clans, fermentation in new and second year demi muids (600 liter barrels) for 10 months in Burgundian style, and production limited to only 7 barrels, and Garrus limited to only 3 barrels per vintage, scored 91 from Wine Spectator . They all come with a fairly hefty price tag - with the Les Clans coming in at around £50-60.
La Grille Pinot Noir 2011 Rosé from Majestic at £4.99 if on offer otherwise £6.99 is a salmon pink with low aromas of strawberry ( cooked/canned), cherry and a confected note with a touch of banana thrown in for good measure. The palate continues on a similar not, the acidity is barely fresh, a slight pithiness after s hort finish and low intensity flavours throughout. This wine from the Massif Central and due to the lack of concentration on nose and palate I feel at £4.99 it offers reasonable value, at the full price of £6.99 - maybe not...... you try it and see what you think.
La Ramade Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence France is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grown traditionally on Bush vines with some trellising and there is minimium intervention of the growing system ( soil, chemicals etc), and made by Laurent Bunan. Pale salmon core welcomes you into this wine and creamy floral aromas and cooked nectarine with a touch of tangerine, all this is echoed on the palate with a hint of saltiness, carried through to the finish which is primarily tangerine and rose.
The bottle of this delightful wine is a beautiful sight on its own, clear glass to admire the wonderful salmon/onion skin colour, and an impressed emblem on the front. 
Camille Giroud Bourgogne Rose 2010 supplied by Berry Brothers at a cost of £13.50 was a pale garnet some may say salmon pink, darker than a Provence Rose, but clear. Aromas of red fruits with a herbal note lead to flavours of red berry fruits including strawberry and raspberry, the acidity keeps it fresh and the alcohol is well integrated. The texture lacks conviction and the wine feels sleek, linear and as if something is missing - the length is good and has fresh fruits to the end. Overall I feel that this is a fresh, simple wine made for drinking soon.
