NV "R" de Ruinart Brut
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Tasting notes
Majority Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a small proportion of Pinot Meunier. Aged for 24–36 months on lees. Dosage 7 g/l. Tasted blind. Lovely hint of reduction that emphasises an oyster-shell minerality on the nose. Fairly light fruit intensity and a simple, short finish. The nose has autolytic breadiness, but it doesn’t yet persist through the palate – might that come with time? (RH)
Critic scores
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay; 9 g/l dosage; LAH9V): Light orange. Sharply focused red berry and tangerine scents are complicated by suggestions of allspice and cinnamon, with a hint of smokiness in the background. Sappy and minerally on the palate, offering fresh strawberry and blood orange flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Packs a serious punch but carries no excess weight and finishes stony and very long, with echoing red berry character.
40% Chardonnay, 57% Pinot Noir and 3% Pinot Meunier, 20-25% of which are wines reserved from the two previous years. Hand-picked, fermentation in temperature-regulated stainless-steel fermenters, full malolactic fermentation, dosage 9 g/l. Bready nose with some real interest. Solid stuff – something to get your teeth into, in a good way. Very clean and neat and tastes as though it had quite a bit of age on lees. (JR)
Dom Ruinart’s NV Brut is an attractive light-weight wine laced with citrus, lemon peel and flowers, all which come together in a delicate, feminine style best suited to near-term drinking. The straight NV is rarely exiting here. This is Lot AES4AB. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2013. Importer: Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200