Moet & Chandon - Brut Imperial Rosé NV (375ml)

The assemblage, which is formed around Pinot Noir, is both spontaneous and balanced, emphasising fruity liveliness. It is zestful, with great suppleness. The assemblage with red wine also gives it feminine, coppery shades. Lively, expressive, dominated by the scent of wild strawberries. Full-bodied, zestful, assertive fruitiness.

Dressed in a pink salmon color, the non-vintaged Rosé Impérial Brut opens with a clear and fresh, delicately intense and slightly floral bouquet of small red berries, cherries and rose petals. Full-bodied, round, intense and fresh on the palate, this is a lovely aromatic and expressive Pinot Noir/Meunier blend with a kiss of elegant Chardonnay. In total, 20% of red Pinot wines give not just color, but also structure. This is very good and stimulating Rosé.

The rosé rendition of one of the best-selling Champagnes has been reformulated for the U.S. market. It is now on the dry side, pushing forward its delicious red fruit. Bright acidity gives the palate a lift, while there is some good weight on the finish.

 

Josh Raynolds Vinous Media: 90 Points

Light, bright yellow. Musky pear and toasty lees on the nose and in the mouth. Fleshy and open-knit, with a hint of bitter lemon pith adding back-end cut. Finishes on a gently smoky note, with very good cling and focus and a hint of bitter quinine. This must be the best example of this bottling that I've had in years, if not decades. In the past the Imperial Brut received a dosage of 12 g/l, but no more; in fact, there's talk that in the near future it may be dropped down as far as 7 g/l.