Description
André Clouet, Grand Cru Brut Rosé “No.3”
Although our last Grand Cru rosé offering from André Clouet came a full 18 months ago, I’m certain everyone still knows the drill: grab all you can carry. Despite tasting tens of thousands of wines in my lifetime, this is one producer I never tire of seeing and, most importantly, drinking. Nobody, be it a grower-producer or Grande Marque, can match the value supremacy that comes with this perennial-favorite Bouzy rosé!
As usual, you can be 100% certain that every new disgorgement is a luxurious, carved-from-chalk Grand Cru Champagne that is guaranteed to transfix all palates. Accordingly, both Jean-François Clouet and ourselves can hardly keep up with the demand, so we’re forced to wait, and wait some more, until a shipment finally does arrive. Incredibly, after all these years, this stunning rosé still comes in around $50, so if there are people out there who have neglected this jaw-dropping wine, the most efficient course of action would be to grab you by the shoulders and yell out “what are you doing?!” Our limited wares always go quick. Best of luck!
NOTE: For those who want to “supersize” their order, click here for limited access to a small trove of Andre Clouet rosé magnums. Maximum of two per person.
Derived from mid-slope vines within the prestigious Grand Cru village of Bouzy, this rosé is crafted from 100% Pinot Noir with a healthy portion of reserves. The juice fermented, both alcoholic and malolactic, in stainless steel vessels, and the resulting wine was transferred into bottle where it aged several years sur lie. Upon disgorgement, it was topped off with a six-gram dosage (technically qualifying it for the Extra-Brut category) and still Bouzy Pinot Noir (8%) in order to achieve its trademark salmon color. Fun fact: “No.3” was originally created to assist customers in judging the color, with the numbers ranging from 1 to 10, lightest to darkest.
With incredible terroir, extended lees aging, and meticulous winemaking, Clouet’s rosé offers an incredibly balanced combination of ripe fruit, texture, depth, and minerality that is nearly unrivaled. The lush, medium-bodied palate coats your palate with zesty fruits that have been infused with a dollop of fresh cream and crushed rock minerality. This is not an angular rosé Champagne; it boasts ripe, stunningly supple textures that deliver the utmost pleasure. Delightful in its youth, this wine’s fruit will take on savory components over the next 3-4 years, so stow a few bottles away, or at the very least space them out over the next year until the next disgorgement arrives! When consuming, please serve in a wide tulip or all-purpose stem and prepare the following smoked salmon blinis. Additionally, it can be thoroughly enjoyed alongside any upcoming holiday meal.
