NV Vilmart Cuvee Rubis

The NV Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis Brut Rosé is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir with the rest Chardonnay. In the glass, it pours a bright pink/orange color and is fruity and inviting, with notes of ripe raspberries, cherry blossoms, sweet citrus from grapefruit and orange, and crushed roses. Medium-bodied, it’s refreshing and delicately fruity, with a lively mousse and a crisp freshness on the finish. It will drink well over the next 5-7 years, but it's delightful as a fresh-styled wine to drink now.

Based on the 2022 vintage, complemented by 50% reserve wines from 2021 and 2020, and crafted from a blend of 90% Pinot Noir (including 15% red wine) and 10% Chardonnay, Vilmart’s latest NV Cuvée Rubis was disgorged in July 2024 with a dosage of eight grams per liter. Leaping from the glass with aromas of strawberry compote, cherry and candied pear mingling with brioche and pink grapefruit, it's full-bodied, expressive and ample. Its voluminous core of ripe yet lively fruit is underscored by a pronounced phenolic presence and succulent acidity, making it the most indulgent wine in the range. Though slightly sweet on the finish, it pairs beautifully with dishes like tuna or red meat. It is vinified in large casks.

The NV Champagne 1er Cru Cuvee Rubis Brut Rose is a bright pale pink color, and is fruity and inviting on the nose, with notes of strawberries, pastry cream, candied grapefruit, and fresh roses. Medium-bodied, it is refreshing and approachable on the palate, with a refined and rounded mousse and a quaffable nature to drink on its own or at the table. This crowd pleaser will drink well over the coming 5-7 years, but I like it where it is now for its fresh style.