ROSÉ

91 de Venoge Brut Rose N/V Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier - Chardonnay
Champagne, France
AB $53.30; BC $63.00 speculative listing - The Seacove Group; BC $31.99 (375 ml) specialty listing
Joseph de Venoge was the first Champenois to create a Crémant-style fizz back in 1864 that was eventually named Princesse Rosé in 1994 after it was served at a Japanese Royal Wedding. In flexible EEC regulations prohibit the use of the word Crémant to refer to a softer bubble (there is a certain lightness at three atmospheres of pressure versus standard champagne pressure of five to six atmospheres) and it was removed permanently from the label in 1997 when it was given its current moniker Rosé Brut. Look for a fresh attractive cherry, mineral, red cassis, toasted, anise aromas with some baked apple. Quite crisp, round and elegant with lots of mineral, cherry, red currant, toasty brioche, baked pear and anise flavours. Firm, fruity, fresh, dry finish with good finesse. An excellent rosé for sipping or with food. Also in half bottles.

88 G. H. Mumm & Cie Brut Rosé N/V Pinot Noir - Pinot Meunier - Chardonnay
Champagne, France
BC $56.95 Speculative - Corby
Lovely pale rose/salmon color. Fruity, fragrant pear, raspberry, creamy toasty aromas and flavours. Additional berry, green apple flavours and cream on the palate. Quite rich and long, very nice persistent mousse. Fine value for rosé champagne.

90 Gosset Grand Rosé Brut N/V Chardonnay - Pinot Noir
Champagne, France
BC $70.55; AB $62.28; BC $36.95 (375 ml)
Light copper orange colour. Toasty, cherry, nutty, citrus peel and baked apple aromas. Very fine mousse with soft, rich, round texture. Very toasty, nutty, stewed cherry, mineral, creamy citrus flavours. Good concentration and balance for current drinking.

93 Gosset Celebris Rosé 1998 Chardonnay - Pinot Noir
Champagne, France
BC $167.45 Speculative – Winspeer, AB $149.95
A first ever for Gosset, a vintage, Celebris rosé. Look for a striking pale peach copper colour. Very fine effervescence with creamy, toasty, citrus, baked apple and marzipan aromas. Round, elegant, fresh and crisp with weight ― on the drier side of brut. Raspberry, creamy, cherry, nutty, toasty flavours streaked with mineral and citrus. Very fine. Long, slightly leaner style with finesse and concentration. Drinkable now but will age well.

90 Lanson Brut Rose N/V Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Meunier
Champagne, France
BC $59.99 specialty listing; AB $38.00 Fine Wine Boutiques;
The Brut Rosé derives its pink/salmon tint by blending the three classic Champagne varieties: pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay with a small amount of red wine made exclusively from pinot noir. Look for toasted lees, biscuit, baked pear, mineral, citrus aromas with a light cherry marzipan note. Crisp, round and dry on entry with fine mousse (tiny bubbles). The flavours are a riot of nutty, toasty, mineral, cherry, citrus and green apple flavours. Definitely dry and crisp but with fine elegance.

91 Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut N/V
Champagne, France
BC $76.90 specialty listing
Light raspberry salmon colour. Fine continuous mousse with nutty, toasty, citrus, cherry, creamy raspberry aromas. Round, elegant and balanced with a slight fatness. Fine cherry, strawberry, toasty, nutty, creamy mineral flavours with a baked apple, light bitter cherry finish. Very good rose made from 100 per cent pinot noir.

89 Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose N/V Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Pinot Meunier
Champagne, France
BC $69.95 Specialty
Fine pale cherry colour with continuous mousse. Cherry, earthy, marzipan, toasty, apple aromas. Rich, ripe, round palate with red currant, strawberry, nutty, toasty apple flavours. Good finesse in a rounder, slightly sweeter brut style. Drink as an apéritif or with duck carpaccio.

93 Nicolas Feuillatte Cuvee Palmes d'Or Rose 1999
Champagne, France
BC $194.99 speculative listing - International Cellars
Made from 2 Grand Crus - Bouzy and Lericay with 60 hours of skin contact to give the intense raspberry colour. Big spicy, candied cherry, earthy, floral, marzipan, tobacco aromas. Rich, fairly dry style with big spicy, cherry, earthy, licorice flavours and a mineral, baked apple finish. Very pinot noir, this is young stuff and will improve over the next 5 years.

92 Pol Roger Brut Rose 1996 Pinot Noir - Chardonnay
Champagne, France
AB $51.00; BC $65.99 Specialty; MB $64.09; SK $49.79
Pale salmon orange colour composed of 60 per cent pinot noir and 40 per cent chardonnay. The wine has cherry, earthy, toasty, citrus, mineral, peach aromas. Quite rich and round for a rosé with intense strawberry, cherry, toasted apple flavours with a hint of licorice and pear on the finish. A rich, balanced style with persistent, creamy mousse.