For years we resisted listing more than one still rosé for two reasons: firstly, we just couldn’t believe that the fashion would last (oops!) and secondly, more importantly, we found little to measure up to Château de Sours’ delicious version on which many of us had cut our rosé teeth. Fast forward a few years and Château de Sours is sold, just as the focus moved towards premium rosé, giving us the best excuse possible to go on a hunt for more, which continues to this day.

This year we have added a new wine from Château Sainte Croix, their Provence ‘Charmeur’, which more than lives up to its name, with a bit more oomph and finesse than their Var version. And look out for Mira Luna 2018 when it is released in the spring as it is likely to be an instant sell-out. The brainchild of Tom Bové, the former owner of Château Miraval in Correns (now owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), the important insider information is that Bové kept the best vineyard at Miraval for himself, which is now the source for Mira Luna’s fruit.

Pink Champagne has a habit of polarising opinion with some considering it nothing more than a gimmick jumping on the pink bandwagon, whilst others see it as a serious wine style with a firm place in the Champagne cannon. Whatever your view, we have two very different styles of rosé Champagne, Legras’ with its delicate colour and light strawberry note and Chauvet’s with its deeper colour and clear Pinot fruit on the palate.

Sparkling rosé from outside Champagne often has mixed fortunes, but Château de Sours’ Réserve goes from strength to strength and remains very popular. New this year, and a first for Private Cellar, is Aristea MCC – Méthode Cape Classique – the official name for South African sparkling wine made by the traditional (Champagne) method from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.