Hacienda López de Haro, Classica Gran Reserva Rosado, Rioja Alta, Spain, 2016

This is deep in colour, much closer to a light red than a simple rosé, given its serious structure, ripe tannins and juicy, rich red berry fruit. It's a blend of 60% Viura and 40% Garnacha, macerated for 24-48 hours before the must is fermented in stainless steel tanks, followed by maturation for four years in French and Eastern European oak barriques, mostly new with a portion of second-use. The ageing of this is impressive – it spends a further five years in bottle prior to release – maintaining its freshness yet also offering a serious structure. It will appeal to both rosé and red drinkers alike. Reflects the region and offers loads of gastonomic possibilities.

Don Sancho de Londoño, Labura Rosado Reserva, Rioja Alta, Spain 2020

Coupled with expressive almond and marzipan aromas, a clear oxidative character on the nose is reminiscent of Sherry, and stems from a few of the barrels that age under a layer of flor yeasts. The palate offers delicate red berries and fleshy strawberry fruit, framed by serious hints of tannin that keep the wine structured and serious. A blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo and white Viura grapes from old vines at 700m in the Sierra de la Demanda, the fruit given contact with the skins for 12-48 hours before fermentation and malolactic in stainless steel tanks, followed by a minimum of 48 months in a mix of mostly new and used, 225L French oak barrels, with a small proportion aged in acacia wood. It is very individual in style, but it works well.

Bodegas Muga, Flor de Muga Rosado, Rioja, Spain 2025

Very pale in colour yet surprisingly concentrated for a wine of such light hue, delivering lots of delicate red berries and an ample palate with plenty of fleshy fruit and texture. The 100% Garnacha fruit is sourced from 70- to 90-year-old vines on several plots at 600m-750m. Only half of the free-run must is used, fermented plot by plot in small oak vats, with the wine remaining on its lees for at least four months before a final selection and blend is made. Wonderfully elegant with stony minerality, this is seamless, fruity and refined, with a very moreish finish. A really clear definition of the region.

Alonso & Pedrajo, Suañé Rosado Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2021

A blend of 50% Viura and 20% Sauvignon Blanc with about 30% of Garnacha red, white and grey, sourced from old vines in four sites around Haro and Villalba. The wine was fermented with native yeasts in concrete tanks, aged in 228L French oak barrels for 13 months, then bottled with minimal SO2 added before resting a further 15 months in bottle prior to release. A substantial rosé with grip from tannins and plenty of red berry fruit. There is serious texture here, and the structure for some further bottle ageing. It could be mistaken for a serious white wine, but there is a nice touch of red fruit.