Devaux Rosé Coeur des Bar, Champagne

Bright peach color with fine bubbles. Aromas of cranberries and apples with some hibiscus. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a tangy finish. Some bread dough at the end. Straightforward and delicious. Base wine 2022. 30 months on the lees. A blend of 75% pinot noir and 25% chardonnay. Disgorged November 2024. Drink now.

90 points jamessuckling.com

Devaux Rosé Coeur des Bar from Champagne is an elegant and expressive rosé that captures the soul of the Côte des Bar, the southern heartland of Champagne. Crafted by the Maison Devaux, a house known for its long lees ageing and meticulous blending, this wine is a celebration of Pinot Noir — powerful yet graceful, with layers of red fruit, mineral freshness and subtle complexity.

The fruit comes primarily from sustainably farmed vineyards around Bar-sur-Seine, where the region’s Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils and slightly warmer climate lend depth and generosity to Pinot Noir. Chardonnay adds lift and finesse, rounding out the blend. The base wines are fermented in stainless steel to retain precision, with partial malolactic fermentation to soften texture. A small portion of red Pinot Noir is added to achieve the wine’s delicate salmon hue and fine berry aromatics. After blending, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and is aged on lees for more than three years, allowing complexity, creaminess and harmony to develop.

In the glass it shows a pale rose gold with copper reflections and a persistent, fine mousse. The aroma is graceful yet intense, offering wild strawberry, raspberry and blood orange alongside notes of brioche, hazelnut and crushed stone. The palate is creamy and balanced, with flavours of red currant, citrus peel and pastry supported by vibrant acidity and a chalky mineral backbone. The finish is long, dry and elegant, lingering with hints of spice and rose petal.

Devaux Rosé Coeur des Bar pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, duck rillettes, tuna tartare or roasted beetroot salad. It is equally at home with charcuterie, soft cheeses or strawberry tarts. Enjoy now for its freshness and perfume, or cellar for five to seven years for added depth and savoury nuance.