The newest figures present that Champagne gross sales continued to develop in 2022, albeit extra modestly than in 2021, which noticed the class rebound dramatically after the pandemic.
Studies additionally present that the rosé Champagne class particularly continues to extend in recognition.
More and more the pattern is to make use of a decrease dosage in rosé Champagne, partly as a response to hotter vintages producing riper grapes and subsequently riper and richer flavours.
Rosé Champagnes might be dearer than their white counterparts. That is largely as a result of manufacturing portions are decrease and the extra manufacturing prices of top of the range, nonetheless purple wine push up costs.
Learn the outcomes of the latest classic rosé Champagne panel tasting
Rosé on the rise
Whereas non-vintage rosé Champagne remains to be a well-liked selection with customers, Jan Konetzki, marketing consultant sommelier and director of wine on the 4 Seasons, notes that classic and status cuvée rosé Champagnes are gaining traction, notably in eating places.
It’s straightforward to see why, as most of the greatest examples can work brilliantly on the dinner desk – whether or not it’s Valentine’s Day or not.
The listing beneath options rosé Champagnes reviewed by our consultants and obtainable at a spread of costs, with some nice worth choices beneath £30 to dearer selections over £300 a bottle.
How rosé Champagne is made
There are two methods to attain the pink hue of rosé Champagne: rosé d’assemblage or saignée.
Rosé d’assemblage
Champagne is the one area the place the mixing of purple and white wine is permitted for the manufacturing of rosé wines, and it’s common throughout high quality ranges.
A small quantity of purple wine created from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier is added to the white base wine previous to its second fermentation. The proportion of purple wine added at this stage is determined by the producer’s choice and may fluctuate from 5% to fifteen% or above.
The purpose is to make sure that the freshness and pressure of the Champagne is maintained. Carine Bailleul, chef de cave at Champagne Castelnau, says her purpose is ‘to have a wonderful steadiness between fruitiness, sweetness, color and acidity’.
It goes with out saying, subsequently, that the purple wine added must be of top of the range. It not solely contributes color to the completed Champagne, but in addition flavour and texture.
Saignée
The saignée technique includes bleeding off the pink-tinged juice from macerating purple grapes.
Louis Roederer makes use of a model of this system alongside chilly maceration to make Cristal rosé, for example.
The Fleur de Miraval variant makes use of the saignée technique, blended with prime Chardonnay, in accordance with winemaker Rodolphe Péters, who labored on the undertaking alongside Brad Pitt and the Perrin household.
How rosé Champagne tastes
It’s troublesome to generalise about what rosé Champagne tastes like as a result of types can fluctuate, but many can have noticeable purple berry characters alongside citrus resembling grapefruit and orange. In additional complicated types, resembling classic rosé, you may discover this balanced with the normal autolytic flavours of Champagne, resembling brioche or bread-like aromas, related to ageing on lees.
Rosé Champagne and meals pairing
Pink Champagne is flexible with regards to meals pairing. Richer types can stand as much as greater flavours and richer meals, whereas the extra delicate, fruit-driven wines make for a classy aperitif. Sweeter types resembling demi-sec are an incredible match for fruit-forward desserts.
Konetzki recommends ‘a colossal, Pinot Noir-heavy status cuvée like Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé with Peking duck’. The plum sauce within the dish matches the candy plummy flavours within the wine.
He suggests a beetroot Wellington with one thing just like the Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé. The pastry-rich, fruity, earthy flavours within the wine pair completely with the candy, earthy beetroot.
For additional glamour, add some preserved black truffles into the dish and take a look at it with a 20-year-old classic rosé Champagne for an excellent – but pretty dear – match.
Rosé Champagnes to attempt for Valentine’s Day:
The next wines have been tasted and scored by Decanter’s consultants.
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