Ruinart Champagne Rosé Brut

Ruinart, established in 1729 as Champagne's first house, keeps Chardonnay at the heart of its style, and this Rosé is built on that grape with Pinot Noir adding red-fruit colour and structure through a portion of still red wine. Made by the traditional method, it takes a second fermentation in bottle and ageing on the lees to develop a fine, bready complexity beneath the fruit. The dosage sits in the Brut range, so the wine stays fresh and precise rather than sweet, and this half-bottle format suits a smaller table.

The wine is a bright, pale salmon with a fine bead. The nose leads with strawberry, raspberry and red currant over white flowers. The palate is delicate and fresh, the mousse soft, showing red fruit and cherry over a biscuit undertone into a long finish. Serve at 8 to 10 degrees in a white wine glass. It works as an aperitif and alongside poultry, white fish and fruity desserts.