So here are a couple of excerpts from the world press. The Wine Enthusiast named it European Winery of the Year in 2014 and also in that year the US wine trade magazine Impact, named it in their Hot Top Ten Imports. The list of publications that have featured articles about this French chateau is too long to mention in entirety, but here are a few: The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, New York Post, Money Week, The New York Times, Harrods magazine, Wine Spectator, Esquire, South China Morning Post, Cosmopolitan, Singapore Tatler, The Boston Globe, Financial Times, The Huffington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The property is Chateau d’Esclans in Provence and its owner, Sasha Lichine, is leading the demand for fine rosé wines. His father Alexis fled the Russian Revolution to America and then established himself as one of the most respected Chateau owners and wine traders in Bordeaux. He also became an author and his best-known book, The New Encyclopedia of Wines & Spirits (1984), has always been within arm’s reach in my office and at home. His son Sasha is creating his own revolution in the fast-growing market for fine rosé.

The success of his Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel has been remarkable and his latest sales handout on the 2014 vintage quotes the Bordeaux Index that says: “An irresistible pink! Charming, refined and with plenty of juicy, enticing, strawberry and berry fruit. This is a rosé that should be in everyone’s cellar without exception. 92/100.” I was chuffed to see that a wintertime Grape Expectations also made the grade with: “It is a wine that shares the joy of summer smells and aromas with us on a chilly winter evening.” $25.55.

A brand new wine has been introduced to our world this month in this way: “It all started with a Whisper … But now it’s time to Rock!” Let me quote The Wall Street Journal: “A new wine from Chateau d’Eslans — it was only bottled in March — Rock Angel is a blend of Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren. And what a stunner it is. I was impressed with its freshness. Pale in colour, it has a beautiful dry finish and a cool texture. A refined, refreshing rosé.”

On this past Tuesday evening 25 of us tasted Rock Angel rosé 2014 for the first time and it truly is a mouth-watering wine. I happen to also love the name that so suits the “rock” that we all live on. It is almost as if it was tailor-made for our island of Bermuda. $32.90. If you buy a case of six it goes down to $29.61 a bottle.

If you are a serious wine buff and would like to taste something totally unique then I suggest the next step up and this is Chateau d’Esclans “Les Clans” 2011 rosé. This consists of a blend of Grenache, Rolle, Tibouren, Cinsault and Syrah from very old vines and although it sounds improbable, it really drinks like a very high end white Burgundy, which of course has to be 100 per cent Chardonnay. It is buttery, minerally and creamy with hints of strawberries, vanilla and coconut. Well-known wine writer James Suckling rated it 93/100. $57.05.

As you think of the very first wines ever made in France some 2,500 years ago, in an area now known as Provence, let me share with you that rosé was among them. Now the French consume about 45 million cases of white wine per year and 75 million of rosé; they are clued in on these scrumptious, versatile, refreshing and food-friendly offerings. About 40 per cent of them originate in Provence, which makes it the leader in quality and volume.

This column is a paid for advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Michael Robinson is Director of Wine at Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn has stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St George’s (York Street, 297-0409). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits is available online at www.wineonline.bm.