Taittinger, Rosé, Comte de Champagne,

The 2008 Comtes de Champagne Rose Brut is composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, with 12% Pinot Noir blended in as a still red wine. It comes entirely from estate-grown, Grand Cru vineyards and is aged 12 years prior to release with 9 g/L dosage. Sporting a very pale salmon pink color, it tumbles out of the glass with captivatingly floral notes of roses and jasmine, giving way to a core of wild strawberries, raspberry leaves, red apples, and pears, with faint wafts of crushed rocks and lavender. The palate is delicately played with racy acidity and very fine bubbles guiding the laser-precise red berry and apple-inspired flavors to a long, mineral-laced finish. For those that love the restraint and finesse with red berry sparkles, this is for you!

The 2008 Comtes de Champagne Rosé is bright, steely and finely chiseled right out of the gate. It shows quite a bit or energy and also more overall tension than the Blanc today. It will be interesting to see how the 2008 ages, and if the fruit ever emerges. I suspect the 2008 will always remain a rather nervous Rosé, even if it is quite striking today. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, chalk and white pepper build into a finish supported by bright, salivating acids and plenty of steely minerality.