Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne

Based on the 2020 vintage, Billecart-Salmon's signature rosé appears to be on its finest form of recent years under cellar master Florent Nys, full of fragrant, crunchy redcurrant, red cherry and orange fruit with an alluring hibiscus-like floral lift and subtle green peppercorn spicing. The Meunier wraps the intensity of the vintage base in a little softness that keeps the focus on effortless ease (helped by the selection of delicate Chardonnays and young, fresh reserve wines), all adding up to a rosé of immediacy and charm, sweet-natured without sweetness and fragrant without overt fruitiness. 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier. (TH)

The NV Champagne Le Rose, which pours a medium salmon color, is a benchmark wine in the range and classic for a reason. Medium to full-bodied, with intertwining notes of flowers and spice, it boasts notes of cherry blossom, fresh apricot, strawberries, and almond pastry. Elegant, refreshing, and light, it is approachable and medium-bodied, with a refined mousse. It includes a large proportion of Chardonnay in the blend, along with 21% Meunier and 24% Pinot Noir, and also features the addition of 56% reserve wine. Aged without oak, it has a dosage of 4.9 grams per liter, with a total residual sugar level of 5.5 grams. (AF)

Billecart's "Le Rose" is not only one of the best-selling and highly rated rose champagnes in the world, but its release in 1970 was an announcement that rose champagne was now a thing - a luxurious, premium sparkling category that had never existed in Champagne's long and storied history. Made in the "assemblage method" -- adding still red wine to the blend -- Le Rose is 43% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 24% Meunier. The dosage was dropped from 9g/l to 5.1g/l, resulting in a much drier and more refined style of champagne. This is the reason for the name change from Brut Rose to Le Rose. The current release is Extra Brut. Next year, it may be brut again. Billecart will make that decision once each harvest is complete. Wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks and went through partial malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness. When Billecart-Salmon decided to make a rose champagne, they approached it with the idea that if tasted blind, you wouldn't know it was a rose because its elegance and finesse would match that of regular champagne. It's a historical fact that their approach worked like gangbusters, and Billecart's Le Rose has become THE iconic offering from this old Grand Marque. Just one of those champagnes that always lives up to its hype.

This Champagne opens with a subtle umami and yeasty note, giving it depth and intrigue before the wine lifts into a distinctly fresh, airy profile. On the palate, it’s remarkably light and precise, showing fresh strawberry without sweetness or weight. The texture is delicate, the bubbles refined, and the balanced. It’s savory complexity giving way to clarity and freshness as it moves across the palate. Elegant, restrained, and endlessly drinkable, this is a benchmark rosé Champagne, it’s easy to see why so many see this as the easy drinking rose champagne.