DIRECTORS’ CUT

MICHAEL’S PICKS

CUVÉE SIGNATURE HENRI ORENGA DE GAFFORY CASE, LOT 2764, P50 FINES BULLES DE LA JASSE ROSÉ, VIN DE FRANCE, 2020, LOT 2699, P9

GREG & MICHAEL’S PICKS FOR THIS CELLAR OFFERING

CHÂTEAU CANET CASE, LA CHAPELLE & LES ÉVANGILES, LOT 2742, P35

GREG’S PICKS

ALONG CAME JONES LLEDONER PELUT HAIRY GRENACHE, VIN DE FRANCE, 2020, LOT 2752, P39 PICPOUL DE PINET, TÊTE DE CUVÉE, AOP PICPOUL DE PINET, 2020, LOT 2736, P31 CÉCILE LEBRUN SANCERRE, ROUGE, AOC SANCERRE, 2020, LOT 2705, P13

MASTER PIECE The Future is Rosé

Jane Masters MW is Opimian’s Master of Wine

Rosé's popularity is endless. Wine consumers around the world are filling their boots with demand for rosé, which is higher than the supply. Producers are responding by launching new rosés at all quality levels, from the cheap and cheerful up to more interesting, ultrapremium wines.

DOMAINE TOUR CAMPANETS ESPRIT, AOP COTEAUX D'AIX EN PROVENCE, 2020, LOT 2722, P22 MARINETTE, AOP CÔTES DE PROVENCE, 2020, LOT 2714, P19 The last time I wrote about rosé wines for Opimian in May 2019, this trend had already been going for some years. Covid, it seems, has amplified it even more. A glass of rosé was the must-have drink for virtual drinks over Zoom for many! Covid aside, increasing numbers of celebrities, film stars, fashion designers and rappers have declared their love for rosé. France is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of rosé with the southern region of Provence the benchmark for quality. 90% of wines produced in Provence are rosé, but neighbouring Languedoc is also shifting its focus to produce more premium rosés to sit alongside its affordable quaffable pinks. At Opimian, this Cellar has a selection of twelve rosés from southern France, Corsica and the Loire. Included in the selection are wines from two newly introduced estates: Domaine Tour Campanets in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, north of Aix-en-Provence, where Emmanuelle Baude makes three qualities of rosé; and Domaine Dupuy de Lome in Bandol close to the Mediterranean Sea with wines made by Laurence Minard. Both make wine from organically farmed grapes from varieties such as Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. But rosé goes beyond southern France. Bordeaux rosés produced from Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have a