For this panel, we asked panelists to taste and rate rosé wines. These could be from anywhere in the world.
As always, these selections include brief tasting notes, a rating and the wine’s retail price (which can vary from store to store and market to market). Unless noted otherwise, prices reflect a 750-ml. bottle. If you are a beverage professional with a specialty in wine who is interested in participating in the panel, please contact Editor Kyle Swartz at kswartz@epgmediallc.com or 203-855-8499 x225.
Rating System
Five Stars (100-92): A top-flight wine, superior in taste and character, and providing a superior price/value ratio.
Four Stars (91-86): A very good wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back.
FIVE STARS
(97) Ron Yates Grenache Rosé 2021 (TX)
Founded in 2007, Ron Yates reflects his family’s seven generations of commitment to the land and farming responsibly in Texas. Ron is the modern interpretation of the Renaissance Man, with a background in the legal profession and the music industry among his other talents. Inspiration struck from his time in Europe. Realizing the parallels in soil and climate, he founded his winery to focus on Spanish, Italian and French varietals. This stunning rosé is done in the classic French style: 100% grenache, cold fermenting and aging in stainless steel. Wonderful berry and citrus notes lead to a long, lingering finish. A beautiful wine to start a summer Texas afternoon, and then finish with a chilled salmon dinner! ($32.99)
(96) Slate Theory Nebbiolo Rosé 2022 (TX)
One of the new wineries on the Texas 290 wine trail in Fredericksburg, TX. Established in 2017 by the Jones family, they have built a winery that could easily be mistaken for the best in Napa or Sonoma. As their own vineyards mature, they are sourcing the best grapes from the Texas High Plains.100% nebbiolo provides a richer foundation with great color and crisp acidity. Cold fermentation retains the purity of fruit and wonderful watermelon and raspberry notes. The best Texas rosé I’ve tasted this year! ($34.99)
(96) Domaine Paul Thomas Rosé 2022 (France)
100% pinot noir from older, organically farmed vines, the wine is a medium-salmon pink. The nose and palate provide a wide range of elegant red fruit, and balancing acidity. A wonderful wine for a wide range of dishes and occasions. ($30)
(95) Alexander Valley Vineyards Dry Rosé of Sangiovese 2022 (CA)
AVV has been producing rosé long before it was fashionable (2005), and it certainly shows with this release. Using sangiovese as the base gives it a discernibly unique style with subtle color, floral touches on the nose and wonderful minerality. Cold fermentation in stainless steel preserves the elegant fruit notes of watermelon and strawberries. Perfect ‘P’ wine for the porch, patio or pool! ($24.99)
(95) Rocim Mariana Rosé 2022 (Portugal)
A blend of touriga nacional and aragonez provide a solid core of fruit and structure. Bright pink to the eye, the nose and palate exhibit plenty of bright red fruit, with floral notes. Exceptionally versatile, and an excellent value. ($17)
(94) Studio 69 Rosé 2021 (France)
The beauty of the international Boisset portfolio is great wines from the classic growing regions of the old and new world. Sourced from the classic Provence region with strong maritime influences and great minerality. Grenache is complemented with cinsault and syrah for added complexity. Beautiful salmon color, rich floral notes and strawberry, watermelon and raspberry flavors make for the perfect summer quencher. ($25.99)
(94) Decoy Rosé 2021 (CA)
From the famed Duckhorn portfolio, this rosé highlights those strengths of the combined winemaking skills, such as grape sourcing from top AVA’s, including Mendocino, Monterey and Amador counties. The blending is primarily based on syrah and grenache, which is harvested at a lower brix to highlight the aromatics and purity of the fruit. Beautiful color, clean and crisp, yet soft on the palate. Excellent food wine for summer season. ($19.99)
(94) Pedra Cancela 2022 (Portugal)
Produced entirely from touriga nacional, one of Portugal’s iconic grape varieties, this supple and graceful rosé provides plenty of fresh berry and bright red fruit. The superb finish just confirms that this is a GREAT BARGAIN. ($12)
(94) Chemistry Sparkling Rosé (OR)
Produced in collaboration between two of the Willamette Valley’s best known producers, this lively bottle of bubbles provides plenty of rich fruit, stone and melon. There’s a very pleasant weight in the mouth, and an attractive, well-balanced finish. ($20)
(94) Villa Sandi Rosé Millesimato 2021 (Italy)
Brilliant pink in the glass, this blend of glera, with a touch of pinot nero, has plenty to offer. Fresh red fruit and a floral note highlight the nose, while the palate follows with the same profile, but adding a smooth texture, with a long and lingering finish. ($22)
(93) Ferrari Rosé NV (Italy)
A blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, with the secondary fermentation in the bottle, there is a lot to enjoy. After 20 months of aging in the bottle, the nose and palate enjoy an attractive complexity, with subtle red fruit at its core. A superb and lengthy finish lingers on. ($37.99)
(93) Tapiz Sparkling Malbec Rosé (Argentina)
As Argentina’s best-known red variety, malbec is usually quite dark. But this bright-pink sparkling wine may just change your mind about malbec. With nearly a year on the lees during the secondary fermentation, the wine has developed a lovely, complex profile. The red-fruit aspect, with cherry and strawberry, is complemented by the bright finish. ($20)
(92) Billette Cotes de Provence Rosé NV (France)
Pale salmon pink color. Nose opens with watermelon and lychee, and those notes follow through on the palate. ($14.99)
(92) Chateau de Nages Heritage Rosé 2022 (France)
A gorgeous, pale almost coral color with notes of melon rind on the nose. The palate is refreshing and lively. Nectarine, juicy peach and hints of orange rind. Simply delicious. ($19.99)
(92) Chevalier de Lafoux Sainte Anne Rosé 2022 (France)
This is an almost colorless rosé, super pale, which hints at the delicate elegance of the nose. Notes of strawberry, cherry blossom and ripe cherries made this an excellent accompaniment to any spicy or lamb dish. ($15.99)
(92) Spicewood Vineyards Sangiovese Rosé 2022 (TX)
A wonderful representation of Texas Hill country winemaking. Sourced from the Bear vineyard, this 100% sangiovese has a substantial backbone with great minerality, intriguing complexity and wonderful fruit notes of raspberries and peaches. Chill it icy cold and enjoy with a chicken Caesar salad! ($32.99)
(92) Oriane Rosé 2023 (France)
Really pretty pink hue with a florality reminiscent of honeysuckle and cherry blossoms. Rich red fruit notes that are evident but subtle: cherries, strawberries and raspberries. A great choice for a rosé fan. ($16.99)
(92) Domaine Maby Prima Dona Tavel 2021 (France)
Richard Maby is a meticulous winemaker, picking all his fruit by hand. Dark ruby, this is a complex, bright rosé full of red current, raspberry, cherry and strawberry. Complex, with a perfect acid balance, suited for light meat and pork dishes. ($21)
(92) Segura Viudas Brut Rosé (Spain)
A lovely blend of regional Spanish varieties, this wonderful wine demonstrates why Cava is such a popular location for making wonderful and delicious sparkling wines. Lovely berry/cherry fruit is balanced by good acidity, as well as delicate effervescence. Great wine, at an excellent price. ($12)
FOUR STARS
(91) La Belle Angele Rosé 2022 (France)
Fun and lusciously juicy. This is a must for any rosé drinker’s lineup. Lychee, super-rich apricot and other stone fruits jump out of the glass and continue. ($11.99)
(91) Luc Pirlet Rosé 2022 (France)
Pale pink. If you’re looking for a classic French rosé, look no further. Fresh, juicy red fruits jump out of the glass but the wine finishes with a clean and crisp minerality. Perfect for those moments where you’d like a glass on the patio. ($11.99)
(91) Mina Mesa Rosé 2022 (CA)
This is an incredibly food friendly rosé with a nose of strawberries and riper red fruits. This is a little bit heavier bodied than an older world style rosé, but it is an overall pleasing wine. ($12.99)
(91) Soucherie, Rosé de Loire ‘LAstree’ 2021 (France)
Don’t be fooled by this wine’s delicate pale color. Crafted from 100% gamay, this wine bursts from the glass with lively cranberry and strawberry aromas and a lengthy mineral-driven finish. ($25)
(91) Winzer Krems Rosé Blauer Zweigelt 2022 (Austria)
This is a fun and effervescent wine with notes of lemon, lime, citrus and tart raspberries. The finish is juicy and tangy. Great option to explore a wine that’s a little out of the normal rosé scope. ($15.99)
(90) Anne Amie Rosé of Pinot Noir (OR)
A floral, honey nose with a blend of strawberry, red plum and grapefruit predominating on the complex palate. Sustainably grown in a beautiful package perfect for retail. ($19.95)
(90) Cameleon Rosé 2022 (Argentina)
This is a rosé made with organic grapes. It’s a fun and easy drinking rosé with tangy notes reminiscent of sweet and sour candy. ($16.99)
(90) Conscious Rosé 2022 (OR)
A bright watermelon pink that hints at how this Willamette Valley wine will taste. Its mouthfeel is more fulfilling and substantial for a rosé. There is a hint of sweetness at the finish, and the strawberry notes linger lovely. ($16.99)
(90) Phebus Malbec Rosé 2022 (Argentina)
A darker shade of rosé with subtle floral notes like rose. This is a tongue-coating wine from Argentina with plum, bright red cherry and a little bit of passion fruit. ($12.99)
(90) Tendance Caladoc Rosé 2022 (France)
Another classic French rosé. Overwhelming notes of bright cherries and raspberries. The finish has an almost-dairy-like texture to it making it linger long after, beckoning you to take another sip. ($17.99)
(90) Tesoro della Regina Rosé 2022 (Italy)
Pale pink and bone dry. Notes of melon, watermelon and pink juicy fruit without the sweetness. It is a great light and breezy rosé option with a food-friendly nature. ($15.99)
(90) Grey Rock Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2022 (New Zealand)
Pale orange-pink color. There’s a little bit of petrol on the nose but this is washed away by overripe strawberries, melon rind and cherries. Sauvignon blanc drinkers rejoice! ($15.99)
(90) Cloud Break Rosé 2022 (CA)
Coral pink. Crisp with notes of raspberry and ripe strawberry. A little sweetness is evident on the finish, but overall pleasing for the price point. ($9.99)
(89) Wagner Vineyards Dry Rosé of Cabernet Franc (NY)
A perfect salmon color matched with fresh fruit on the nose and palate. Crushed rock creates a weighty, dry sipper packaged in a handy screw cap bottle. Bring it on a picnic with fried chicken. ($15.95)
(89) Apres Rosé 2021 (France)
Composed of gamay and mondeuse, this rosé hails from a hillside in southeast France below a Massif. Crafted with whole clusters, this pale pink is dry and lively with aromas and flavors of strawberries and talc. ($20)
(88) Three by Wade (CA)
Crafted by Jason Pahlmeyer and composed of 100% pinot noir, whole cluster and gently pressed. Fresh and lively, almost dangerously refreshing, a perfect summer slugger. ($15)
(88) Parr Vineyards Mourvèdre Rosé 2021 (TX)
Parr is one of the newer growers and started selling their grapes to top Texas wineries. They are transitioning to making their own wine from the 20-acre estate vineyard. Their Mourvèdre Rosé is done in the classic Provence style, with beautiful color, rich fruit notes of strawberry and watermelon. Located in the newly recognized Hickory Sand AVA, the iron-rich red soil imparts great minerality. The details matter, from early-morning harvesting to cold fermentation, and specific rosé-type yeasts to produce a wonderful Texas rosé! ($29.99)
Want more reviews? Our wine panels in the past year have included:
- South American Wines
- Spring and Summer Wines
- French Wines
- American Wines
- Sparkling Wines
- The Best Wines Under $30
Feature photo by Dennis Vinther on Unsplash.
