Jonathan Ray Jonathan Ray

Wine Club 14 April

Three perfect rosés with which to welcome spring and summer

issue 14 April 2018

It’s April and as I write, it’s still bloody cold and the fire’s lit. The other day I could have sworn that spring was on its way but it seems it’s been unaccountably delayed. It’s probably down to leaves on the line or some such guff about the wrong type of sunlight or the points having frozen. Sigh. It’ll be here soon. Until then, I can dream — and my dream of the moment is of plenty of sunshine and plenty of chilled rosé.

Thank goodness then for Sacha Lichine whose sole aim (and that of his partners, Patrick Léon, former head winemaker at Château Mouton Rothschild, and Patrick’s son, Bertrand) is to make the finest rosés in the world at his Château d’Esclans estate in Provence. And thank goodness for From Vineyards Direct for offering said wines here.

Last year was a fine but small vintage in Provence (down about 20 per cent on 2016) and lovers of Lichine’s celebrated Rock Angel, Les Clans and Garrus will be disappointed to learn that these were made in minuscule quantities, certainly too minuscule to offer here, more’s the pity.

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