READ MORE: THE CHAMPAGNE REPORT 2023

Often undeservedly left in the shadow of its white counterpart, Charles Heidsieck Rosé Reservé is a cuvée I often recommend to people who state that they ‘don’t like rosé Champagne’. Able to turn many sceptics into rosé drinkers, the 2018 based cuvée is particularly attractive playing with pink Champagne’s charms and the house’s reserve wine richness in the most elegant and precise way.

Late-disgorged cuvées are often limited to white Champagnes only – therefore, I was particularly happy to see the releases of Gosset’s new 12 Ans de Cave à Minima Rosé. After 12 years on lees, this gastronomic Champagne offers intriguing textural richness and mature aromatic expression.

Most houses today produce a non-vintage rosé, but pink vintage Champagnes are much more scarce. Louis Roederer does the opposite and only makes vintage and prestige cuvée rosé. Here, sticking exclusively to estate-grown fruit and the use of the house’s unique infusion method pays off, with the cuvée consistently standing out as one of the Champagne world’s best pink purchases. The fresh, radiant and vibrant 2016 Rosé Vintage is building up my thirst for discovering Cristal Rosé from the same vintage, which is still resting in the Roederer cellars.

Among the vintage rosés I tasted for the Report, I would also like to highlight Pol Roger’s delicious Rosé 2018. Released rather young, this wine showcases the best qualities of this mellow and fruit-forward vintage, offering plenty of gastronomic appeal.

What about the divine world of rare prestige-cuvée Champagne, then? This is the category that often gives me the most palate pleasure and intellectual excitement. While white prestige cuvées will need to suit many palates, the rosés don’t have the same problem: with scarce volumes, there is no need to please the crowds. Here, Pinot Noir-driven, red wine character often speaks loud and clear. I am loving the sensual decadence of Krug Rosé 27éme Èdition. I am sure that the recently established edition numbering will add much more interest and collectability to this pink beauty.

Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs offers amazingly Burgundian textural and aromatic qualities, yet I love how an added splash of red wine in its Rosé still keeps it in the Burgundian sphere, but this time plays on Pinot Noir’s elegant deliciousness.

Meanwhile, La Grande Année Rosé (a personal favourite of mine in the Bollinger range) comes with the added soulfulness of Pinot Noir red wine from La Côte aux Enfants monopole plot in Aÿ, Bollinger’s calling card. This is witnessed in the refined and tense 2014; on my wish list is a longer lees-aged R.D. version of the rosé, hopefully something Bollinger will one day deliver.

When the stars are aligned, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay ripen at the same time, enabling Laurent-Perrier to craft its rare maceration-method Alexandra Rosé. That was the case in 2012, and this immediately impressive vintage gave a sublime Alexandra Rosé full of expression and delicious vinous gravitas. Having followed the wine over the course of a year now, I am dazzled by its emerging layers of bold yet refined complexities.

Below is a list of the top-scoring rosé Champagnes from the tasting. To see the full results, head to The Champagne Report 2023.