Mailly Rose de Mailly Grand Cru, Champagne

A very fruity rosé with cotton candy, cherry and candied lemon aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and rather tannic with a chewy finish. I liked its red wine nature and fine bubbles. It needs a steak. 89.4% pinot noir and 10.6% chardonnay. Disgorged September 2025. 6 g/L dosage. Drink now.

92 points James Suckling

Mailly Grand Cru is unusual even by Champagne standards. Founded in 1929, the house is a grower cooperative based entirely in the Grand Cru village of Mailly Champagne on the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims. Its growers collectively control an impressive patchwork of vineyards around the village, with Pinot Noir the star and Chardonnay providing freshness and finesse. Rosé de Mailly takes that strong Pinot foundation and turns it into one of the house’s most immediately seductive Champagnes.

Pinot Noir leads the blend, joined by Chardonnay, with red wine from Mailly adding colour, berry fragrance and a gentle savoury dimension. The chalk rich soils of the Montagne de Reims give the wine its freshness and structure, while extended time on lees builds texture and those lovely pastry notes that separate serious Champagne from simple sparkling wine.

Delicate salmon pink with a fine, persistent bead. Wild strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant lead into blood orange and pink grapefruit, with rose petal, brioche and toasted almond developing underneath. The palate is bright and energetic, combining juicy red berry fruit with creamy texture and crisp citrus acidity. Strawberry and redcurrant carry through to chalk, almond and a gently savoury finish.

Tuna tataki with sesame, salmon sashimi or grilled prawns would all be cracking matches, while duck pancakes, tempura vegetables or a beetroot and goat’s cheese tart show how versatile good rosé Champagne can be. 

Cellaring: Drink now to 2033.