Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Rosé de Blancs 1er Cru, Champagne

Attractive salmon color with flint, white-pepper and delicate cantaloupe aromas that follow through to a medium body with bitter grilled-lemon and orange-peel flavors. Very intense aftertaste. Lots of character. A blend of 94% chardonnay and 6% pinot noir. Dosage 5 g/L. Drink now.

94 points jamessuckling.com

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Rosé de Blancs Premier Cru is an elegant and distinctive Champagne that redefines what rosé can be. True to the Gimonnet family’s deep devotion to Chardonnay, this cuvée is built predominantly from Côte des Blancs Chardonnay, with just a small addition of Pinot Noir from the renowned Grand Cru village of Bouzy to lend its delicate pink hue and gentle red fruit perfume. The result is a rosé of crystalline precision, freshness, and finesse — a wine that marries minerality with grace.

The Chardonnay comes from Premier Cru vineyards in Cuis, Vertus, and Cramant, where pure chalk soils and cool microclimates produce fruit of tension and lift. Vinified in stainless steel to preserve energy and purity, the blend is finished with a touch of still Bouzy Pinot Noir, carefully selected for its aromatic charm rather than weight. The wine is aged on lees for over two years before release, gaining texture and complexity while maintaining Gimonnet’s hallmark delicacy.

In the glass it glows the palest salmon pink with a fine, persistent bead. The aroma is refined and expressive, offering notes of redcurrant, wild strawberry, lemon zest, chalk, and white flowers. The palate is bright, elegant, and beautifully balanced, with subtle red fruit over a core of citrus and minerality. The finish is long and graceful, lingering with purity and freshness rather than sweetness.

It’s a superb Champagne for pairing with seafood, sushi, duck breast, or charcuterie, and also shines as an aperitif. Refreshing yet complex, it can be enjoyed now or cellared for five to seven years to gain richer toasty and nutty nuances.