Rosé Champagne
2017 Gold: 4 Silver: 4 Bronze: 1 Commended: 4
2016 Gold: 3 Silver: 2 Bronze: 4 Commended: 11
Making rosé champagne is notoriously difficult – and expensive. And in the past, this combination has left our tasters scratching their heads at the less than compelling combination of high prices and low quality put before them.
But not this year. The number of medals might have been broadly the same as in 2016, but this year our teams were having to hold themselves back from throwing around Gold medals like confetti.
Textured, well-made, flexible and not, for the most part, terribly expensive, this was one of the stand-out sections of this year’s competition.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘Of course you have a bit of romance and love with rosé champagne, but it can really be enjoyable over a dinner, not just as an aperitif.’ Jonathan Giffrin, Claude Bosi @ Bibendum
‘Rosé champagne can be quite pricey… When you go from £20 to £30 you really see the difference.’ Laurent Richet MS, team leader
‘It was difficult to score as we can’t give Golds all the way! The Golds we did give were fairly priced, and they had complexity, elegance and consistency.’ Sara Bachiorri, Chez Bruce
‘They were quite full-bodied and rich, so perfect for food matching. Usually people drink it for an aperitif. But once they have it, you’re looking for food for them that will work well with it.’ Lucasz Walkowiak, Oxo Tower Restaurant