Champagne Gosset Grand Rosé for that Special Valentine

Drinking Champagne is synonymous with celebrations, parties and pampering.

Maybe it’s the pop of the cork, the bubbles rising, the feeling that this is something special, that creates the whole Champagne sensation for me.  Then, hey presto make that champagne pink and you take it to yet another level.

Pink Champagne speaks to me of celebrity, of luxury, of beautiful people picnicking on a riverbank.  It’s all summer fruits and effervescence.  In glamour terms it’s in a class of its own.

And when better to add sparkle to an occasion than Valentine’s Day?  But don’t just nip into the local supermarket and go for the money off option.  This is a special occasion that calls for something truly special.

First, you are looking for Champagne and that means it has been produced exclusively within the Champagne region of France, otherwise it is classified as a sparkling wine. Then there’s the grape variety: the primary grapes used in Champagne are the Pinot Noir, the Chardonnay and the Pinot Meunier.

Now let’s look at pedigree.  This is Valentine’s Day, after all.  So let’s opt for real history and Gosset, the oldest wine house of the Champagne region in northeastern France. Gosset was founded in 1584 when Jean Gosset, a grape grower in Ay, left a vineyard to his grandson, Pierre Gosset, who after producing and exporting mainly red wines, turned his talents to the production of outstanding Champagne.

Gosset currently produce two wonderful Rosé Champagnes, perfect for any special occasion: non vintage Grand Rosé and vintage Celebris Rosé.

Rosé Champagne is produced either by the saignée (or ‘bleeding’) method, where the wine is simply allowed to have more contact with the red grape skins, or the more widely used method practiced by Champagne Gosset, which is to blend a small proportion of still red wine from the region to the white champagne. 

Their Grand Rosé Champagne is a delicate pale salmon-pink, enriched by ruby-red reflections.  Pop the cork and you’ll enjoy an aroma explosion of fresh strawberries and the finest strawberry jam.  Then the anticipated taste, a voluptuous strawberry flavour with just a hint of sweetness.

Who could resist?  But saying it with this special Champagne will see you splashing out around £55 a bottle.  It’s an “I love you - I love you not” decision!  Certainly there will be no mistaking the intent.

The ideal drinking temperature for Champagne is at 7 to 9 °C (45 to 48 °F) so chill in the fridge for a couple of hours or pop the bottle in a bucket of ice and water before opening.  This will also ensure that the Champagne is less gassy and can be opened without spillage. It is best to serve champagne in tall thin tulips or flute, which keep the bubbles effervescing.

If you really want to push the boat try the Champagne Gosset Celebris 2003 Rosé Extra Brut – this one is very dry but deliciously fruity and true to the character of all Gosset champagnes. Champagne Gosset Celebris 2003 Rosé is perfect for that very special occasion or person and retails at around £120 a bottle.

Champagne Gosset is available from most independent fine wine shops and retailers including Berry Bros, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. 

Poppy Watt 

For your chance to win a bottle of Grand Rosé, just answer the following question:

What region do the grapes in the Gosset blends come from?

www.champagne-gosset.com

Send your answers to competitions@womentalking.co.uk ensuring you place the word Gosset Champagne in the subject header and also include your Women Talking username with the submission. This competition is only open to Women Talking subscribers so any entry with a valid username will not be accepted.

Please note this competition has now closed.

Finally all entrants must be 18 years or over.

Posted Thu, 02/02/2012 - 22:52 by Poppy Watt