Tsarine Rose NV

One of my ultimate pleasures is Champagne rosé. This example shows notes of strawberry, cranberry and rose petal swirls with effervescence in the glass. It is composed with equal thirds of chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir, so the wine is flamboyant, succulent and round. Not the longest, yet it has an appealing up-front fruit impact. Playing an unconventional pairing, I enjoyed it with fresh mussels served in a tomato, onion, basil broth topped with chilli flakes. What a delightful way to match this wine. As the dish is rather hot, the counterbalance in every mouthful makes it so much fun. I particularly enjoy how the onion and tomato sauce revel with the cranberry edge of the Champagne. Its lively bubbles, vibrant acidity and red fruited personality make Tsarine rosé a real gourmet cuvée.