Champagne Lanson - Le Rosé Brut

Refined, deep, and delicate: an elegant and truly noble prestige cuvée.

Founded in 1760 and located in the heart of the city of Reims with its garden, the Clos Lanson, this historic House celebrated its 260th anniversary this year with one major goal: to reclaim its former glory. With 550 hectares of its own vineyards and 16 hectares dedicated to organic and biodynamic viticulture, the house has access to a total of more than 100 different crus, 50% of which are grands crus and premiers crus. Over the past several years, significant investments have been made to optimize the winemaking process: a plot-by-plot fermentation facility, a cask cellar dedicated to reserve wines, and a new pressing center. The cuvées reflect this investment in the aging methods for reserve wines and their enhanced depth, as well as the decision to no longer systematically perform malolactic fermentation. Aging periods have been extended, dosages are meticulously calibrated, and the packaging has been superbly redesigned—right down to a back label packed with highly detailed technical information that is very useful to today’s consumer. The wines now possess that extra touch of soul that connects the consumer to the maturity of the style and to splendid, multifaceted profiles.

The house prides itself on having produced its first rosé as early as 1833. Blended from the three Champagne grape varieties (53% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier), this wine includes 35% rosé reserve wines and 7% red wine from Bouzy and Les Riceys. It is aged for 4 years in the cellar. Rose gold? Wild rose? The pastel hue is elegant. The nose, with notes ranging from pastry to blond tobacco, reveals a pleasing maturity. Dark fruit blends with almond in a full-bodied, rich, and harmonious palate, with perfect dosage.

The wine has a lovely, intense color; the nose is open, marked by red fruits, macerated cherries, and spices. The nose is quite refined, and the reserve wines add complexity. The palate remains harmonious; the fruit is well-defined, and the dosage is slightly off for now, but this won’t be an issue in the future.

The brand, founded in 1760, has been the flagship of the publicly traded Lanson-BCC group since its acquisition in 2006. Since 2018, the house—which exports more than 80% of its production—has been chaired by François Van Aal. Cellar master Hervé Dantan carries on the Lanson style with Pinot-dominant champagnes, in which malolactic fermentation is no longer systematically halted, characterized by a crisp freshness and built for aging.

A lively, fruity rosé with hints of peach and strawberry. Mandarin orange notes as well. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture. It’s a blended wine with only 7% red wine. Lovely red fruit with the same freshness. Very fresh and lively.