Gimonnet Brut Rosé de Blancs Champagne 1er cru NV

93 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(2016 base; disgorged July 2018; 92% chardonnay, 8% pinot noir; 63% Cramant for plumpness, Chouilly Mont Aigu for fruit and elegance, and Oger for masculine structure and spicy minerality, 29% Cuis for signature vivacity and freshness, 8% Bouzy pinot noir red wine; aged 2 years on lees; 5.5g/L dosage; DIAM; 19,918 bottles). Gimonnet’s cracking and cleverly named rosé is just 8% Bouzy red wine (not least because it costs him almost €15 a litre to buy!) blended with his vintage Gastronome cuvée – his blanc de blancs with the most body and power to handle the pinot. ‘The aspiration is to elaborate a very refreshing rosé that upholds the identity of Gimonnet and of the Côte des Blancs,’ Didier Gimonnet explains. Its popularity has taken him by surprise. ‘I thought a blanc de blancs specialist like me would not sell more than 5% rosé, but this cuvée is now 7–8% of my sales, and Gastronome has halved in production accordingly.’ Charged with more than 50% grand cru chardonnay, the result upholds its mantra of sustaining the mouthfeel, persistence and surging bath-salts chalk minerality of the Côte des Blancs with great accomplishment, this year touched with a pale salmon-pink hue and the lightest reflections of white cherries, lemons, ruby grapefruit, red apples and strawberry hull. Delightfully restrained and refreshingly tense, it’s more about crystalline precision and vibrant drive than flavour. One of the most refreshing apéritif rosés this year, serve it like a delicate blanc de blancs, not like a rosé. One bottle showed a subtle lack of freshness, lending a savoury tomato hint. (2020-2021)"

93 points James Suckling: " very pale rosé champagne with delicate strawberry and raspberry aromas, but this is as much about the elegance of chardonnay as anything else. Long, filigree finish that’s all berry flavors and hard to resist! A cuvée of 94% chardonnay from Cramant, Chouilly, Oger, Cuis and Vertus with 6% pinot noir from Bouzy. Disgorged in October, 2021 and with very low dosage for this category. Drink now. (1/5/22)"

92 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The NV Brut Rosé de Blancs is gorgeous. It offers notable depth and texture to play off its vibrant, chiseled personality. Cranberry, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks fill out the layers effortlessly. There's a ton to like in this captivating Rosé from Gimonnet. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 3, 2021. Drink: 2022-2028. (May 2022)"

92 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The NV Champagne Rosé de Blancs pours a pale salmon hue and offers fresh aromas of delicate flowers and raspberry as well as notes of fresh peach and almond. This is a pretty style with approachability and an ease about it now. Drink 2022-2032. Drink: 2022-2032. (11/7/22)"

91 points Wine Spectator: "[$68 list] Fresh and focused, this balanced rosé Champagne offers crisp texture and flavors of nectarine and white cherry fruit, blanched almond and delicate hints of white blossoms and fresh herbs. Minerally, salt-tinged finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged November 2021. Drink now. (11/30/22)"

91 points Wine & Spirits: "[$68 list] This chardonnay turns to a pale pink with the addition of five percent red wine (pinot noir from Cumières). It takes on the delicate scent of rose hips and hibiscus, over tangerine notes that finish firm and clean. (Dec 2021)"