Etienne Chéré, Brut Rosé
We always love to discover new wines and new producers and this one was a fun find. The Champagne house of Etienne Chéré is quite off the beaten track, in the village of Courjeonnet south of the Côtes des Blancs, between Sézanne and Epernay. The house has passed from father to son since the late 19th century, and is situated along the marshes of St. Gond, where they grow all three Champagne grapes. It’s been a while since we’ve put a Rosé in the club and we thought this one was wonderfully refreshing and tasty. A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Pinot Meunier, it has a lovely salmon color and fine bubbles. It is quite full flavored, with notes of red currant and other red fruits, balanced by good acidity and a nice long finish. It is $55 and is a perfect Champagne for parties and celebrations, with or without food. (Dare we say this? In the description of this wine on their website, they note that this Champagne is “Pour vous Mesdames” (for you ladies). Must be a bit of Gallic gallantry: we definitely think this one is an equal-opportunity pleasure!)