RUINART

45% Chardonnay, 55% Pinot Noir, 2019 base. 20% reserve wines, with 12% red wine addition (which is decreasing further with future release). Fluffy, forward cherry and redcurrant fruitiness, riding an expansive and youthful mousse. Cool, appealing and fresh, with some herbal and allspice detail and a thread of blood orange pithiness. This feels fairly primary and in need of a little longer on cork, although it is carefully balanced and snappy. Tom Hewson Rating: 90 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Dec 2022)

This offers all the trim sleekness of a well-built racing sailboat, while the flavors unfurl on the palate like a full spinnaker sail. Macerated raspberry and poached apricot fruit is underscored by smoke and toast notes, and pleasing hints of crystallized honey, tangerine zest and dried thyme echo on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030.—A.N.
ABOUT THIS WINE: Value is relative when it comes to Champagne, particularly for rosé, a category that starts at about $60 per bottle. At $74, Ruinart’s offering—one of the highest-rated rosé Champagnes of my tastings this year—deserves recognition for the house’s ability to deliver consistent, exceptional quality at a fair price. And Ruinart’s relationship with rosé is notable, with historical documents marking the house as the first to sell rosé in 1764. Today Ruinart is best-known for blanc de blancs from 100 percent Chardonnay, but the rosé shows chef de cave Frédéric Panaïotis’ skill with Pinot Noir, blending 55 percent Pinot Noir, of which 18 percent was still red wine, with Chardonnay. Rating: 94 Alison Napjus, The Wine Spectator (Dec 2020)

Very attractive, bright and fragrant red fruits on the nose here. This has a wealth of fresh yeasty characters, fresh pastry and bread dough, plus red fruits, pink grapefruit, and some floral notes too. The palate has a strong nectarine and light cherry flavor thread. Chardonnay has a lot to say here; the texture is creamy and the balance right on the money. Rating: 93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jul 2015)