Wine of the week: a must-have for a summer party

2010 Domaine Pique Roque Ros, Ctes de Provence, France (£10.60, Haynes, Hanson & Clark, 020-7584 7927, www.hhandc.co.uk).

After a recent flying visit to Nice, I thought a Provenal ros might be a timely suggestion as the weather tries its best to warm up. Made from grenache, cinsault and cabernet pique roque ros, this wine is the palest of colours and yet it packs quite a punch. Its hue comes from the red skins bleeding' into the wine in French the term is saigne', and it is the most delicate of methods, giving the most elegant and ethereal of styles. All ross are, in fact, reds that haven't quite been allowed to make it all of the way down the winemaking process (ie, full skin contact with juice).

This ros is massively talented with food. Chilled down ice cold, you have a brilliant aperitif. But out of the ice bucket it can handle everything from crustacea, via top-flight fish dishes to veal and roast chicken. HH&C has some magnums (£22.85) and double-magnums (£68.60), which look awesome and are the absolutely must-have for any of your salubrious summer parties. HH&C is also a specialist in Bordeaux, Loire and Burgundy, so remember to top up on any last minute 2010 en primeur requests.

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