Henriot : Vintage Rosé 2012

An elegant rosé Champagne, layering flavors of ripe cherry, blood orange sorbet and orchard blossom on the delicate, finely detailed mousse, with lightly mouthwatering acidity and a zesty underpinning lending focus through to the lightly spiced finish. Drink now through 2027. 400 cases imported.

After a worrying start to the 2012 growing season, a warm summer resulted in good ripeness come harvest. The blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay is all from premier cru and grand cru sites in the southern Montagne de Reims, in Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d’Or and Mutigny. Dosage was at 7g/L, and the finished wine was matured in bottle for at least eight years prior to release. Peter Liem: A sophisticated nose shows the elegance and dimensional depth that long lees ageing can bring. On the palate, textural richness and energy. This is delicious now but will increase in character and complexity. Alan Bednarski: Pinot Noir leads with ripe red cherry and blueberry mixed with liquorice, dried red petals and subtle ripe quince. Expressive with all-round appeal. Claire Thevenot MS: Lees ageing brings savouriness and power here. This is still on the young side and has a long life ahead.

Aromas of sliced ripe strawberries with pomegranate. Some granite and earth, too. Full-bodied and very vinous with firmness to the texture and fine bubbles. Mushroom, berry and earth in the aftertaste with some citrus fruit. Very vinous. Pinot noir and chardonnay. Drink or hold.

The 2012 rosé is driven by red-fruit notes and a finish that retains some tension. It is well balanced.

Offering up attractive aromas of blood orange, red berries, peach, orchard fruit and brioche, Henriot's just-released 2012 Brut Rosé Millésimé is medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with fine concentration, ripe but racy acids, a delicate mousse and a long, saline finish. This is one of the more intense, vinous wines to emerge from Henriot in some time, and it's very promising.