Not sure if anyone’s noticed, but lately, my tasting notes here have been a little scarce. Not for lack of tasting - trust me, the bottles have been opened, the glasses filled, and my palate put to work. But so many have been uninspiring, fleeting, forgotten before the last sip. And then, boom! A bottle like this.
Popped in the morning, savored through the evening. Great at first, but by dinner, it had truly unfurled. The nose? Cherries, plums, warm spices, rose hips, pink peppercorn, chalk, and orange zest, with a whisper of apricot. The palate? Plush yet precise, broad yet focused. Biscuity richness and an electric minerality. A saline, vinous, full-bodied stunner that lingers impossibly long.
This just reaffirms what I think about this wine - one of the best pink expressions from Champagne, period.
NB: In my mind (and admittedly, limited experience), the best champagne rosé’s include:
Selosse Rosé - haven’t had it in ages, but many bottles had in the past have brought great joy.
Bouchard Enfer - honestly, my sample size is too small, but both times were really impressive; though it must be noted that my company then thought it was more intellectual than pleasurable (too phenolic and soft).
Bereche Remensis - best value rosé? Consistently delicious and complex.
I have heard from friends that the DP P2 and P3 rosé’s deserve to be high on any list. Hope to try them one day.
— a month ago
2004 vintage. This was a highlight reel. Acidity, dirty, pretty, fabulous mousse, delicate, concentrated, fruit, long finish. It had it all at some point in the tasting experience. Looks to go long in this state…at least another 7-8 years (till 2033) without any noticeable dropoff. Can’t remember the last time I had a better rosé brut. Magical. 03.01.25. — 8 days ago
Light body, salmon in color and grapefruit with some lemon zest on the palate. — 10 days ago
Pink lady apple on the nose, raspberry pie and rose hop with and underlying cassis notes. — a month ago
Medium copper salmon colour . Slightly waxy dried orange , spiced wild strawberry , touch of resin , sea salt . On the palate this has more fruit , with touches of orange , spiced dried strawberry , roasted nuts, saline seaside hints , balanced acidity and elegant , refined personality. Intense and long , this is probably showing better and more complete than the 2011 I had a few weeks ago . Just starting to get going , but still with a long life ahead. From now and over the next 5 to 10 years perhaps . — a month ago
Andrew Cullimore
Clear and brilliant , medium ruby garnet with a light garnet ruby rim . This is showing quite a lot of tobacco and , sous bois , some dusty cassis , sweet red cherry , red plum , coffee and beef jus . After a while a touch of old wood and grafite . Quite intense and certainly alive . On the palate this is elegant and with more dusty, coffee tinged sweet red fruit , red plum , cherry. Dusty cassis. Good density and really elegant acidity and fine , resolved tannins . Good length with some coffee and cocoa on the finish . Mature obviously but showed well and opened up over an hour or so in decanter . Drink now and over the next 5-10 years perhaps , though won’t improve . — 5 days ago