Whether you’ll be attending a street party, lining the Mall or holding your own triumphal get-together, these majestic bottles will keep the festivities going over the extra-long Bank Holiday weekend. Cheers to a joyous Jubilee!
1) It’s ‘Reign’ing Provençal Rosé!
Whispering Angel Platinum Jubilee Pageant Edition 2021, Côtes de Provence Rosé, Château d’Esclans, France (£20-£22.50, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Noble Green Wines, Harvey Nichols, 13%)
Launched by canny Sacha Lichine in 2006, Château d’Esclans tells me that Whispering Angel — nicknamed ‘Hampton’s Water’ due to the unquenchable thirst of its well-heeled American merrymaking followers — is now the country’s leading Provence rosé and was inspired in part by the strong relationship between the UK and France. So it seems fitting that they are being acknowledged and proudly partnering up alongside so many illustrious British companies and brands for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, for which it’s the official rosé wine. From the famous estate located around 20km to the northeast of St Tropez (where it’s loaded by the case onto superyachts), this is crisp, classy and glossy with notes of pink grapefruit, redcurrant and citrus. A chic, regal and ravishing benchmark rosé to enjoy as a posh summer apéritif or to sip with seafood/sushi/salade niçoise.
2) Royal Kentish sparkling rosé
Co-op Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé NV, Kent, England (£18, Co-op, 12.5%)
Don’t miss out on this zingy, floral, ripe red fruit and citrusy romp of a wine from nearby Balfour Hush Heath Estate in Kent – it’s the best-value English sparkling rosé to sip right now. Puts on an immaculate performance. Bullseye vinous virtuosity for under twenty quid.
3) Must-try joyous bottled GIN-ius!
Tesco Finest ‘The Melodist’ London Dry Gin, England (£20, Tesco, 40%)
This superb, melodious, smooth, award-winning London Dry gin has top notes of coriander seed, yuzu, cardamom, green tea and lemongrass, as well as some bay leaf and juniper. Serve with tonic water over ice with a slice of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary. Fantastic supermarket bargain and a joyous bottle for summertime refreshment. Vive la (gin) révolution!
4) Classic English fizz fit for the Jubilee
The Society’s Exhibition English Sparkling Wine NV, Ridgeview Wine Estate, W. Sussex, England (£24, The Wine Society, 12%)
Patriots will want to crack open a fine traditional method English sparkler this special Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend. The Wine Society’s Exhibition English Sparkling Wine has to be a vinous front runner for the celebrations, particularly because its creators delivered the sparkling wine for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in 2012. For a splash-out-treat pop this zesty bottle of incredible W. Sussex finesse. Produced solely for The Society by Ridgeview Wine Estate on the South Downs, just seven miles from the sea, the Exhibition English Sparkling Wine is derived from pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay; and the flavours are all orchard fruits, melon, citrus and honey. A seriously classy package with assured length.
5) Must-try own-label supermarket fizz
Specially Selected Bowler & Brolly Winemaster’s Lot English Sparkling Classic Cuvée Brut, Hampshire, England (£19.99, Aldi, 12%)
Thanks to well-informed buyers, lots of supermarket wines taste as good as extravagant bottles commanding twice the price. But you have to know where to look, I’ve found, given my recent experiences at Press tastings. Enter this tasty, bargain own-label sparkler from Aldi, with mouth-watering toasty/bready, citrus and green apple characters, which invite the second glass. Hampshire strikes yet again with top-quality fizz. It’s a cracker.
Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine
