Last night a fun group convened in Croton for a varied lineup of rose Champagne with some age. A nice spread with beet-cured gravlax, prosciutto, pate de campagne, and a variety of cheeses helped us get started.
2016 Marguet “Shaman” Rosé Brut Nature
pale color, fresh strawberries and grapefruit zest, not at all oxidative (had some concerns after a few other Marguets with a bit of age) B+/B
2015 Corbon “les Bacchantes” Rosé Brut Nature
Her first rose, all Meunier, quite vinuous, red fruits, caraway seed, citrus zest. B++
2014 Marguet “Shaman” Rosé Brut Nature
a bit austere taut but good, lots of citrus, floral B/B+
2014 Marguet “Ambonnay” Rosé Extra Brut Millésime
sweet red fruit complex spicy B+/A-
2014 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses “Juste Rosé” Extra Brut Millésime
Just lovely - elegant, complex, young, smoky with rye bread over a nice fruit base, great texture. A-
2011 Georges Laval “Cumières” Rosé Brut Nature Millésime
Raspberry fruit, off and odd, not for me (Cathleen says like damp clay soil and I agree) C+/C
A break for a still wine, 2018 Aurélien Lurquin Coteaux Champenois Rosé
New producer to me, apparently a bit of a Coteaux specialist, spicy/herby sweet raspberries, good but I’m not paying $100+! B
Nice shrimp and avocado salad!
2009 Billecart-Salmon “Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon” Rosé Brut Millésime
Rich & lovely, velvety texture A-
2009 Deutz “Amour de Deutz” Rosé Brut Millésime (375 ml)
First half bottle was corked, second bottle was tasty, but not as complex as the Billecart, strawberries and cream. B
2008 Pol Roger Rosé Brut Millésime
ripe and juicy, cherries, blood orange, and caraway seed, good length. B++
2008 Louis Roederer Rosé Brut Millésime
young bright vinuous, this needs time but great potential, B for now with A- potential
Champagne Jacques Selosse Rosé Brut NV (DG 2010, guesses are base years 2004/2005)
acetone nose and reduced, better on the palate but not that much better, others liked more and thought needed air. But for me C+ - I do not really want to drink this.
Chicken and sausage stew with olives and mushrooms (delicious)
2002 Billecart-Salmon “Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon” Rosé Brut Millésime
My initial impression was delicious but more advanced than a mag we had last year, but with air it got even better. What a great palate break! Lovely, elegant, both tasty and cerebral with red cherries, tangerine blood orange, rye bread. Great finish. A-/A
2000 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses “Juste Rosé” Extra Brut Millésime
Quiet to start, but opened nicely in glass with sour cherries, candied orange peel, saline notes and good acids. A-/B+
1996 Deutz “Cuvée William Deutz” Rosé Brut Millésime
Strawberries and ripe peach, herby finish, good. B+
1996 Dom Ruinart Rosé Brut Millésime
I found this simple, with bitter/sour notes I didn’t care for, C+/B-
1996 Billecart-Salmon “Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon” Rosé Brut Millésime
Corked, that is painful!
Really fun evening. I’m used to lots of spitting when at a tasting where I need to drive (I use a breathalyzer and am consistently under 0.04), but my usual is to spit almost all the wines- but mostly drink the Champagne intermezzi, but have to adjust when it’s all Champagne! I think everyone was up for doing this again! .
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.