£10.95–£13.99, The Wine Society, Exel Wines, The Black Dog Wine Co (UK), Averys of Bristol
The McKinlay family's Loubié rosé, is always mouthwatering, but the 2017, which they bottled earlier than usual, is better than ever – brimful of wild strawberry, spice and cherry aromas, bright strawberry-soda and red-apple fruit shot with cranberry and rosemary, and finally a lingering, leafy freshness. I first tasted it at the end of February and then again in mid-May, blind, when it was one of the three top-scoring wines out of a total of 93 in Decanter magazine's 'French rosé beyond Provence' tasting (results out now, August issue). The grapes are all from the domaine, which sits between the pretty hilltop village of Séguret and towering Mont Ventoux, and the 40-year-old Grenache and Syrah vines that produce the rosé grow at 320m, a height which captures daytime sunshine and cooling nights. It works equally as an aperitif or with food – Greek or Turkish meze, herby fish or chicken, veal chop, barbecued vegetables or charcuterie. And you can always follow it up with one of the majestic Mourchon reds.
Domaine de Mourchon Loubié Rosé 2017, Séguret Côtes du Rhône Villages, France
£10.99–£13.99, The Wine Society, Exel Wines, The Back Dog Wine Co (UK), Averys of Bristol