When it comes to vintage Champagne, Roederer is clearly one of the best. They start in the vineyard, and manage the vines for this rosé very differently than the sites that are used for the Blanc de Blancs, Cristal and regular Brut vintage. In the case of this wine, they use their steep sites in the Premier Cru of Cumieres to get the ripest Pinot Noir possible in the cold Champagne region. While the Pinot is macerating, they infuse Chardonnay from the coolest sites in the Grand Cru of Chouilly both to slow down the set of the pigment and add freshness and acidity to the wine. The 2012 vintage was a great one in Champagne, marked by low yields and warm harvest conditions, and this is a great example of the concentration and texture that this great year is capable of. The color is only a pale copper strewn pink, but the finish has great black cherry Pinot power. The top class chalk of the Chardonnay make this a long finishing, lengthy treat that should not be missed!

Another stunning vintage release from one of our favorite of the Grandes Marques! Although Roederer's MO is to only produce rosé when conditions are right, they recently experienced so many great harvests that the hits keep coming! The 2012 Roederer Rosé is elegant and accessible, somewhat softer and more cherry-fruited than the crisp 2010, but no less fresh. Hailing from Champagne’s “miracle vintage,” this release uses the labor-intensive saignée method, resulting in a more textured palate without sacrificing any minerally acidity. This is concentrated but bright, and great with food. Plus, a bonus with this half-bottle size is that it ages a bit quicker than larger formats, so you can fast forward the complexity development!

On the nose, soft bing cherry, raspberry fruit aromas with a subtle toasty autolytic character and bristling minerals. On the palate, the fruit is soft and subtle up front, with the rich texture and minerals taking the forestage, until the fruit explodes with flavor on the back palate, where the vibrant acidity makes itself present for a crisp, everlasting finish. Excellent vintage rosé from one of the best!