Las Fincas Rosado Magnum, Chivite 2024 150cl

This rosé was born of a friendship. Julián Chivite created Las Fincas Rosado as a tribute to the great San Sebastián chef Juan Mari Arzak, and it was designed from the outset to sit at the dinner table rather than beside the pool. In magnum, it becomes a wine for a proper gathering.

Chivite have farmed in Navarra since 1647, and this is 65% Garnacha with 35% Tempranillo, aged on its lees for around six months before bottling. That lees ageing is unusual for a rosé and it's the key to the wine's silky, gastronomic texture, the thing that separates it from lighter, simpler pinks.

The nose is genuinely fragrant: wild strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate, pink grapefruit and white peach, with a lift of rose petal at the end. The palate is smooth and balanced with bright acidity and a satisfying weight, closing with a note of cherry. It has the freshness you want from rosé and the substance to carry a meal.

At £45 for a 150cl magnum, this is smart value for a food-friendly rosé that can hold a table's attention across several courses. Drink it young and well chilled while the fruit is singing.

How to Serve

Serve at 7-10°C in a white-wine glass rather than a flute; the aromatics deserve room. A magnum keeps its cool longer, so no rush to finish it.

Where to Drink It

Dandy on Maltby Street for a relaxed, food-led evening. J Sheekey with a shellfish platter. The Wolseley for a long, generous lunch.

Food Pairings

Arzak himself would point you towards lemon roast chicken, but it's equally happy with grilled prawns or a Niçoise-style salad.