The La Grande Année Rosé 2004 is made up of 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay with a small amount of Côte aux Enfants still red wine in the mix. The oxidative traits are clearly apparent here but they present in rather a different manner.
Faded red fruits and fresher strawberries sit alongside mushrooms, brioche, earth and leaf. Oyster shell and slightly saline minerality. Once again there is a prominent tertiary feel to the wine and tannin plays a large part in both texture and structure, providing a counterpoint to the soft and yielding mid-palate. “We don’t want it to be too fruity,” remarks Guy de Rivoire. The finish is marked by a healthy dose of pepper spice. 95
Region: Champagne, France
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Cork
Price: $280
Tasted: April 2014