2019 Chateau Sainte Roseline Le Cloitre Cotes de Provence 750 ml

This is a gem from the most reliably excellent rosé region on Earth—one whose last vintage has earned 4.5 out of 5 stars from Wine Access members. 

Le Cloître Sainte Roseline Côtes de Provence is one of just 18 wineries in the region to have earned Cru Classé status—the pedigree of these clay-limestone vineyards, replenished by natural springs, was recognized as far back as Pope Jean XXII. But you don’t need a history degree to appreciate the pleasures of this quaffable-yet-complex rosé—just a glass, a place to chill the bottle, and a place to chill.

We drink this no matter the season—as an Indian Summer sipper and fall and winter aperitif—so you’ll want to be well-stocked. And you can’t do better than a Cru Classé rosé for just $22.

As soon as the pale salmon-colored rosé hits the glass, it over-delivers: A halo of strawberry, Mirabelle plum, and white raspberry swirls out of the glass, supported by a chorus of fresh herbs, sumac, and exotic floral notes. Showing firm concentration and saline zip, finishing bone-dry with stony minerality, the Sainte Roseline delivers everything we adore in rosé, full stop.

On a trip to the South of France last year, we visited Chapelle Sainte-Rosaline, where it takes a moment for the eyes to adjust from the bright Provençal sun outside to the cool, dark interior of the Romanesque church. 

“How do you feel about mummies?” our guide asked as we walked in awe toward famed works by Chagall and Giacometti. We thought we’d heard everything when it comes to wineries, but within this wine’s namesake cloister lies the preserved, 690-year-old form of Roseline de Villeneuve, a local hero and saint who brought about miracles and aided the poor. The ancient site, with its crumbling stone walls, is shrouded in ancient mystery—the opposite of this pure, vivacious wine.

Thankfully, the vineyards surrounding the church are far more forthcoming than its interior. The grapes grown here by the Teillaud family are terrifically expressive, offering delicate raspberry and melon aromas, which are echoed on the lush palate and tempered by clean, bright freshness. It doesn’t hurt that they’re located in the Esclans Valley, between the legendary Domaines Ott and Château d’Esclans, which makes Whispering Angel and the $110 Garrus rosé. 

About a decade after Bernard Teillaud bought the estate (which includes the chapel) in 1995, his daughter Aurélie took over operations. She recently debuted Le Cloître, which is focused on juicy, primary fruit and named for the cloister of the chapel, which provided sanctuary for injured GIs during World War II. Clever monks used the cloisters’ stone walls to hide the soldiers from German troops.  

Aurélie has also maintained Sainte Roseline’s status as one of the leading Cru Classé wineries in Provence even as the rosé market has surged, flooding the market with competitors. While other producers in Provence are over-cropping just to keep up with demand, she has introduced increased planting density and green harvesting to lower yields and force the vines to produce more flavorful fruit, as well as leaf stripping to maximize sunlight, leading to greater flavor concentration in the berries—displaying the family’s extreme devotion to quality over quantity. 

That commitment shows in a rosé that’s still a bargain for the prestigious region. We’ve been thinking about this rosé since our visit, which is why we’re keeping it in our glass as long as we can.