Review: NV Armand de Brignac Brut Rose Champagne

We reviewed the original “Brut Gold” Armand de Brignac Champagne back in 2009, in the early days of Drinkhacker, and now we’re back with the natural sequel: Armand de Brignac Brut Rosé. The rose is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, and 25% Chardonnay, drawing its color from the addition of 18% still red wine to the final blend. As always, this joint venture between Jay-Z and Moet Hennessey takes a no-expense-spared approach to production, the bottle coated in a metallic pink-gold material (not actual gold) and stamped with French pewter labels in lieu of paper. The black lacquer presentation box and velvet bag remain the same as well.

I finally opened this to celebrate the completion of a new screenplay (ask me anything!) … and of course to review it on its merits. Thoughts follow.

At first blush, this wine doesn’t break the mold at all, bright with fresh strawberry and a strong secondary note of juicy orange, layered ever so lightly with florals that grow stronger as the wine warms up a bit in glass. A very creamy Champagne, especially for a Brut, the wine’s greatest strength is how well-integrated its silky effervescence is, coaxing the wine into gently sweeter territory as the finish approaches, culminating in light-handed notes of vanilla and coconut cream. All the while, a sharp edge of orange peel gives the wine an incredible freshness, even as the dessert-like finish fades out.

It’s extremely hard to put down — but at $450 a bottle, may be even harder to pick up.

A- / $450 [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]

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