3 Amazing Provence rosé Wines for the best “Rosé-all-Day” Summer

Why Provence Rosé?

Until recently, North Americans perceived rosé as a sweet, low-quality wine associated with inexpensive jug wines and wines suitable for women only.

Some fifteen years ago, a male friend of ours jokingly referred to rosé as the wine equivalent of Midol (a medication for period relief), suggesting that no self-respecting man would ever touch it with a six-foot pole. Such perception hindered rosé acceptance among wine enthusiasts.

As palates evolved and consumers sought lighter, more refreshing options, the interest in rosé began to grow. The rise of the “rosé all day” culture helped to fuel the trend.

Rosé became associated with leisure, relaxation, and a sense of carefree enjoyment, attracting a broader audience and boosting its popularity.

Nowadays, it’s almost a given that every winery you visit will offer rosé wines in their selection.

Despite the proliferation of rosé at wineries across the globe, Provence rosé maintains its status as a benchmark of quality. It offers a level of finesse, balance, and complexity that has been perfected over generations.

How we selected these wines

We didn’t care for celebrity backing in our selection. Sorry folks, Miraval rosé didn’t make the cut.

So, let’s dive right in and review our recommended wine lineup.

2020 Chateau Pradeaux Côtes de Provence Rosé wine tasting notes

Provence rosé is a benchmark of quality. But Provence, Bandol rosé is in a league of its own. If there ever was a benchmark of a rosé benchmark, this would be it. Slap “Bandol” on a French rosé, and the price for a bottle you’re about to enjoy will increase by at least $10 compared to its non-Bandol Provence counterparts.

That is where our Chateau Pradeaux gains its claim to fame and uniqueness. Strictly speaking, all Chateau Pradeaux vineyards located in Bandol wine region. However, the grapes used in 2020 Chateau Pradeaux Côtes de Provence Rosé come exclusively from the declassified vineyards in Bandol, i.e. they are not officially assigned the Bandol Appellation label. It is the only Bandol rosé you can get at the Côtes de Provence rosé price. Sans Bandol classification, this wine offers unmatched quality, earning the impressive #87 rank on Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of 2021.

Located on the outskirts of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer, Chateau Pradeaux exemplifies a story of survival. It was established in 1752 when Jean-Marie-Etienne Portalis, an author of France’s civil code under Napoleon, inherited the land from his grandmother. Despite the turmoil and destruction of the French Revolution and later wars, including WW ll, the estate has stayed in the Portalis family. Cyrille Portalis now runs the estate. Today Chateau Pradeaux is among the oldest and most respected producers in Provence.

This wine is like nothing we tried before. Château Pradeaux rosé is for serious wine connoisseurs.  

Breaking the “drink now” norm of Côtes de Provence rosés, this rosé stands out. Even four days after opening, this wine did not show much degradation in its flavour profile. The wine’s Bandol pedigree and aging in cement cuves must have contributed to such a stellar performance. It gives us the confidence to recommend cellaring this wine for up to 6 years. 

2018 Château la Tour de l’Évêque Côtes de Provence Pétale de Rosé wine tasting notes

Château la Tour de l’Évêque, not to be confused with Château Latour , is situated in the picturesque Maurettes valley of the Côtes de Provence, just 12 miles from the Mediterranean and 30 miles from Saint Tropez. Once a summer retreat for the bishops of Toulon, Gabriel Sumeire acquired the property in 1958. It is now managed by his granddaughter Régine, the first women winemaker in the region. That’s not the only reason this Rosé is famous.

Régine made history in 1985 by introducing the delicate pale pink rosé style that has come to define the rosé wines of the Provence region. The difference was noticeable, with a longer than usual finish. The colour, unique at the time, inspired Régine’s best friend to refer to the wine as Pétale de Rosé, and the name stuck!

The vineyards at Château la Tour de l’Evêque have an average vine age of 30 years, and all their wines are certified organic. The winemaking process takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel and gravity-fed cuves and also includes malolactic fermentation. 

We expected much more from this wine. We attribute our underwhelming experience to the fact that we sampled it in 2023, long after its drinking window had closed.

Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé and the vertical tasting of their two vintages

Château d’Esclans is located in the heart of the Var district, where most of the AOC Rosés de Provence are produced. The original castle, constructed before the 12th century, remains only in the form of its cellars. In 2019, the majority stake in Château d’Esclans was sold to the Louis Vuitton group.

The chateau is known for its old Grenache vines. It is said that they produce grapes much more concentrated in aroma than young vines. In 2006, the property was acquired by Sasha Lichiné with a plan to turn it into the world-class winery. While Régine of Château la Tour de l’Évêque is credited with introducing delicate pale pink rosé, Lichine deserves recognition as the driving force behind the current worldwide obsession with Rose Wines. His Whispering Angel rosé has gained immense popularity, selling millions of bottles annually, making it one of the most renowned rosés.

We had two bottles of Château d’Esclans from two different vintages, which presented an excellent opportunity to do a proper vertical tasting of this wine.

2018 Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé wine wine tasting notes

Despite its’ age, this wine is still crisp, clean and pleasant even though the brightness of the fruit is mostly gone. Interestingly this vintage exhibits more citrus and sweet fruit on the palate as compared to the 2021 vintage (below).

2021 Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé wine tasting notes

This wine is fresh, crisp and lively. It is much more savoury than its older brother we tasted. It does well after opening for about three days if stored with a tight-fitting cork in a fridge.

Food pairing recommendations for Provence Rosés

While personal taste varies, we have a few food pairings that will be universally appealing when pairing with these wines:

• Planning charcuterie to go with Provence rosés? Consider including coppa and other dry-cured meats onto your charcuterie platter.
• For cheese lovers, add Comté, Campo de Montalbán, Corcuera, Manchego, and Delice to your charcuterie platter for exceptional pairings.
• While it’s unclear if bouillabaisse was initially meant to pair with rosé, our four wines perfectly complement Julia Child’s bouillabaisse fish soup, served with rouille and toasted bread.
• Château Pradeaux rosé possesses enough flavour to accompany a beef flank steak with arugula and chermoula sauce.
• Lighter rosé wines, such as Château d’Esclans, pair well with prosciutto-wrapped salmon with saffron risotto and mushroom quiche.
• If you’re in the mood for pasta dishes, ravioli with German yellow potato, fennel sausage, and dill beurre blanc work well with all of these wines.

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The final verdict:

Provence rosé wines offer a level of finesse, balance, and complexity that has been perfected over generations.

The combination of grape varieties, meticulous winemaking techniques, and a deep understanding of the region’s terroir results in wines with exceptional elegance and a unique sense of place.

The homogeneity of style achieved by Provence rosé makers poses a difficulty when selecting a top wine. To be fair, none of these wines would disgrace a picnic or a dinner table.

However, in the words of our male friend who eventually became a rosé convert, if you’re going to drink rosé, you might as well go for the best.

The title of the best rose goes to Chateau Pradeaux. This wine clearly distinguishes itself from among the vast ocean of Côtes de Provence roses by virtue of its terroir’s unique pedigree. It is a great food wine that works well with a vast array of dishes, which in our books, is one of the main requirements for a good wine.