Racquet Rosé 2022 - 75cl

Racquet is the house rosé of the Rochambeau Club, and it was built for exactly the setting you'd imagine — long afternoons on the Côte d'Azur, the sun high and nobody in a hurry. Made in partnership with the Provençal winemaker Alexis Cornu from vines near La Garde-Freinet, it's a Côtes de Provence rosé that aims for elegance over easy crowd-pleasing.

The blend is a contemporary Provençal mix of Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache Noir and Rolle, and the pressing is gentle — hence that pale, barely-there salmon colour. On the nose it's white peach, pink grapefruit and a little redcurrant, with a floral top note. The palate is dry and mineral, with a fine line of citrus acidity and a stony, saline freshness that gives it more structure than most poolside pinks. The finish is clean and lingering rather than sweet.

This is rosé to drink well chilled with friends, but it has enough backbone to sit at the dinner table too. Pour it as an aperitif and let it carry through the first courses.

How to Serve

Serve well chilled, 8–10°C, in a white-wine glass rather than a flute. No decant. Keep the bottle on ice through the afternoon.

Where to Drink It

Scott's on the terrace. The Wolseley for people-watching. J Sheekey for something more intimate over shellfish.

Food Pairings

Grilled prawns or a plate of salade niçoise. It's also happy alongside goat's cheese and summer tomatoes.