NV Taittinger Cuvee Prestige Rose

The NV Champagne Prestige Rose is a deeper pink but still bright color and is round and fruity with mixed berries, crushed flowers, and candied citrus. Full-bodied, it has a rich texture and structure and is ready to drink now or over the next few years.

The 2021-based release of Taittinger’s NV Prestige Rosé, incorporating reserve wines from 2019, 2018 and 2016 and disgorged in January 2025 with a dosage of nine grams per liter, is showing well, revealing aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry and pink grapefruit mingling with brioche and timut pepper. Medium- to full-bodied, ample yet vibrant, it includes 14% still red wine, which lends attractive phenolic grip to its rich core of fruit. It is a blend of 35% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. Its clear-glass bottle leaves it vulnerable to light strike, so it is essential to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

Full bottle 1,618 g. 12% red wine. Chardonnay and Pinot blend.  A satisfyingly deep pink! Masses of sweet fruit – candied cherries, strawberry lolly, raspberry jam. Very bright and cheerful but the dosage tastes high. Without food it tastes slightly exaggerated and simple, but it was surprisingly good with cold roast beef, and its sweetness provided a really good foil to the pepperiness of rocket leaves, mustard and horseradish cream on a fully loaded roast-beef panini. In fact, I think it tasted way better with that mother-load of strong, spiky, hot flavours than it did without. It does make for an expensive leftovers picnic, though... (TC)