2022 Whispering Angel Rosé, Château d'Esclans, Provence (magnum)

Whispering Angel is without question one of the world's finest rosés, the sheer aromatic elegance, flavour and presentation of which make it little wonder that it continues to be one of our best-sellers, whatever the weather.

As this exceptional rosé develops rather nicely with time in the bottle.

"So with the world waiting with an ice bucket and glass in hand, how good is the first taste of 2022 Whispering Angel?

 I am relieved to report that the unbroken run of excellence is still intact, but there is more. This is the first vintage of Whippy that actually seems actively youthful and taut. While it normally hits the ground running, with pliable fruit and welcoming freshness, this crisp, expressive wine is firm, tense, energetic, and utterly ravishing. The rose petal nose, melon flesh silkiness, and grapefruit acidity are all in place, and they are layered, glisteningly attractive, and immediately impressive, but this 2022 vintage is different from previous vintages because it nips in on the finish promising more drama as it relaxes and billows over the next six months.

 So, take it from me, that while this is already a cracker, I know that come May, right on cue, it will have even more glamour and allure on the nose, palate, and finish!

This is the very first time I have added a + to my score below because this is the symbol I use, across all of my wine writing, to indicate that a wine will improve and evolve with age! Who would have thought that Whispering Angel would be such a wine? 18+/20

Matthew Jukes