Château Galoupet 2022

The second commercial vintage since LVMH took over the estate following considerable work in the vineyards. Even taking into account that 2022 was a hotter, drier vintage, this rosé is more structured and concentrated than the 2021. Creamy brioche, yellow peach and white chocolate aromas from lees ageing and a small amount of oak launch the rich fruit. On the palate, sweet ripe strawberries and red currants peep around the edges of the white peach fruit, while violets, menthol and garrigue open out around a dark mineral core and saline austerity on the finish. Smooth and silky with lots of depth and concentration. Classic, fresh Provence.

Magnum made of recycled dark amber glass to a special design. In conversion to organic viticulture. LVMH's first acquisition (of three) in the Provençal rosé category. From a site near Hyères very close to this coast. See Tam's recent note on the 2023 in bottle which gives a lot of background. The wine is very pale amber with masses of aroma and flavour – very much a cut above the norm. Chock-full of briny flavour and tropical fruit. Not sure I can see Tam's papaya (papaya never seems to have a very strong flavour to me) but it has broad fruit and a certain grip on the palate. Definitely a win for LVMH. The acidity tastes relatively low but there's a lovely bitterness on the end that recalls kumquat to me. Definitely worth a high score. And this may well age delightfully. (JR)

Presented in its very beautiful engraved bottle, the 2022 was refined with only 30% of the blend of grenache, tibouren, syrah, rolle (with a bit of cinsault and sémillon) aged in demi-muids (versus 40% in 2021). The result is greater freshness for this mineral rosé, with white fruit notes and a pastry-like nuance.