Ruinart Rose Champagne

This may be “the best Champagne you’ve never heard of” according to Forbes magazine.  And we’ve got a small allocation, at a great price, for our Insiders.

“Ruinart is a low profile, yet select, Champagne house which is steeped in history. It dates back to the 17th century, the time of the famous Dom Pérignon. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in the city of Reims, the year after a Royal Decree in 1728 whereby Louis XV gave his consent for sparkling wines to be shipped in baskets containing 50 to 100 bottles. This opened the gates of Europe to champagne and thus makes Ruinart the oldest Champagne House. Nicolas’ uncle was Dom Thierry Ruinart, close friend to Dom Pérignon himself and an inspiration behind the creation of this house after the Dom’s death. Its Gallo-Roman chalk cellars are now a UNESCO-classified historical monument and every two years the finest sommeliers in Europe gather there to compete for the Trophée Ruinart.

“Dom Ruinart Rosé champagne has the same basis as the Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay) to which 15%-20% red wine (Pinot Noir from Verzenay and Verzy) has been added. These are amazingly rich and pure in youth developing red Burgundian notes with long ageing such as in the 1988 or 1990 vintages.” – Berry Brothers and Rudd

“19 out of 20 / 98 out of 100 points.

“Utterly delicious, totally fruit-driven and with surprising finesse, this is just the second Ruinart Brut Rosé cuvée produced by Fred Panaiotis, the young, highly talented new chef de caves. If he keeps this up, Ruinart, the oldest Champagne house, could be a superstar in the making.” – Tom Stevenson, Decanter and World of Fine Wine