Wine News: The 2025s Have Landed

It's the moment of the year I love when the new vintage starts arriving on shelves and the spring has sprung. The 2025s are here, and there is a lot to get excited about.

Provençal rosé is back in force. Two of my favourites have just landed: the new Mirabeau, which keeps getting more refined year on year, and Château Léoube — quietly one of the most beautifully made rosés in Provence, organic, coastal, and a long way from the supermarket pink shelf. If you've been buying the same bottle on autopilot, try one of these.

Picpoul de Pinet 2025 is the early winner for me. The wines I've tried so far are zippy, saline and properly mineral — exactly what Picpoul should be when it's good, and a reminder of why it remains one of the best food whites under £15. Enjoy Picpoul with oysters.

And the talking point of the season: Queen drummer Roger Taylor has launched a Côtes de Provence rosé called Cuvée Rock n' Roll 2025 — a Grenache-Cinsault blend made by the Les Caves du Commandeur co-operative, retailing at £18. Celebrity wines are usually a polite eye-roll, but this one is genuinely well-made (and the pyramid bottle is stunning). One for a summer dinner with a sense of humour.

Also crossing my desk this month: Also crossing my desk this month: Gusbourne's new Brut Rosé 2020 — a wine I've just tasted and very much enjoyed. It's a blend of 59% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir and 12% Pinot Meunier from their vineyards in Appledore and near Goodwood, with an impressive 56 months on the lees. A serious English sparkling rosé that holds its own against anything from Champagne. Elsewhere, Nyetimber has launched a limited-edition English Summer rosé, M&S has a new Portuguese label, Pirr, is bringing some interesting Alentejo rosé into the UK.

If you want to host a wine tasting with me and try these wines, just drop me an email.

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Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite