Delamotte : Brut Rosé

A pretty wine. Copper in color, with subtle watermelon, strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors woven through a carpet of toast, mineral and floral flavors, all of which persist into the elegant finish. Not dramatic: its charm is its subtlety.

The judges were all struck by the purity of Côte des Blancs specialist Delamotte, sister house of Salon in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. President Didier Depond believes in the ‘freshness and poise’ of Chardonnay, which here comes entirely from grand cru villages (with just 8% Pinot Noir, also from grand cru villages of the Montagne de Reims). Based on the ripe 2020 vintage, with a modest 15% reserve wines, the class of the source material shines in this exemplary bottling. Tom Hewson: Very alluring bright cherry, honey and brown butter richness. Serious, with stony minerality, dried flowers and mandarin/grapefruit. Stunning. Eugenio Egorov: Fresh redcurrants, cranberries and apples, notes of tangerine and bread crust. Rounded fruit is balanced by lively acidity, with a light mousse. Victoria Mason MW: Nutty oxidative aromas, flinty funk, creamy white peach and lemon curd. This is complex and intense, with a vibrant, pink grapefruit, tangy freshness. Persistent and elegant.

The NV Brut Rosé is a sinewy, taut wine laced with perfumed, energetic fruit. As delicious as the wine is, it is also clearly deeply informed by the Chardonnay of Mesnil, and I really wonder about the rationale behind a Rosé from a village that is so famous for its Chardonnays. To be sure, Delamotte's Rosé is a pretty, harmonious wine, but at the top level, there is simply too much competition from houses with vineyards better suited to making top-class Rosé. This is Lot # L 77R25506, disgorgement date unknown.

Medium salmon pink, silver reflections, fine, persistent mousse. Fresh mandarin zest, red cherries, fresh plum fruit, mineral undertones. Medium complexity, vivid fruit sweetness, subtle acidity, red berry nuances on the finish, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

A medium salmon/tangerine color, the NV Champagne Rose Brut is pretty, with notes of English candies, toffee, fresh pastry, floral perfume, and fresh peach. Medium-bodied, I love this release of the rosé, which has a pillowy and rounded mouthfeel, complemented by refreshing acidity and notes of raspberries, fresh grapefruit, and candied praline. Medium-bodied but rounded, I like this a lot. It’s a blended rosé, designed to be enjoyed upon release, and offers considerable versatility. Based on 2022.

80% Pinot Noirs and 20% Chardonnays from Grands Crus co-macerate to create this delicate saignée with a pale pink hue. The aromas reveal tart little red berries, redcurrant and crushed raspberry. Gentle flowers mingle with sweet confectionery. The palate is pleasantly supple and caressing, with clearly defined orange-tinged flavors. The tangy finish is very elegant and flavorful. A beautifully airy mastery of saignée.

Richer and more full-bodied, with a finish that becomes heavier.

A crisp Champagne veering towards dryness, this is textured, with a touch of red fruits set alongside the citrus flavors. The wine is so fresh, so light and poised. Drink the bottling now.

The quality of this NV rosé is subtle, with such beautiful aromas of cherry, orange peel, pomegranate and honeysuckle. Hints of bitter lemon and sliced strawberry. Medium body with very fine bubbles and a creamy, lively finish. The base is 2021. Two years on the lees. Dosage 7.5g/L. Small production. Only 10,000 bottles made. Drink or hold.

Based on the 2020 vintage, the Delamotte Rosé NV is all Chardonnay but for the 12% of still Pinot noir from Tours sur Marne, Bouzy, Ambonnay. An assemblage blend of no more than 15 base wines, it was disgorged October 2022 and finished with an eight gram per liter dosage. Vibrant Salmon orange in color, it springs from the glass with very expressive raspberry, marmalade and light spice aromas that transition to a savory and toasty, medium to full-bodied palate with abundant white peach and apricot character, shimmering acidity and a fresh, elegant finish. Refreshing and classically styled.

Behind a simple nose, the palate is more structured but finishes with vegetal, bitter notes. This is not good.

The Delamotte NV Brut Rosé is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay that receives its beautiful pink-salmon color from the saignée method. The grapes are sourced exclusively in grand cru villages such as Bouzy, Ambonnay and Tours-sur-Marne for the Pinot and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for the Chardonnay and are fermented together. The wine tasted here is based on 2012 (disgorged in June 2016 with a dosage of seven grams per liter) and opens with a highly delicate and subtle bouquet of red fruits intermixed with very fine chalky flavors. On the palate, this is an intense yet fine, very elegant, well-structured and persistent Rosé with a lovely vinous character and charming fruit reminiscent of raspberries and cherries. The finish is pure, fresh and even salty, revealing a delicate grip and a lush, highly delicate texture. This is a picture book Rosé that doesn't need any occasion but itself.