© Rare Champagne

RARE MILLÉSIME ROSÉ 2014

Bold in composition and unmistakably charismatic, Rare Millésime Rosé 2014 brings together nine crus, including seven grand and premier, for a rosé that leads with structure as much as with flair. Layers of wild strawberry, blood orange and dark chocolate unfold with complexity and are supported by star anise, pink peppercorn and kirsch. Eight years on lees and cork aging deepen its character, finishing with a clean bitterness and fine bubbles that lend it the tension and grip required for refined pairings. This vintage challenges expectations and stands its ground at the table. $500.

© Champagne Taittinger

TAITTINGER 2016
This vintage Champagne brings together equal parts Chardonnay from the grands crus of Côte des Blancs and Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne. Aged five years on the lees, the wine delivers pinpoint bubbles and a layered aromatic profile of pear, kumquat, gingerbread and verbena, with floral highlights of honeysuckle. Citrus and peach emerge on the palate, while a subtle mint character and orange peel note extend through the finish. Elegant and expressive, this 2016 vintage balances complexity with a restraint that lets the harvest speak for itself.
$135.

© Champagne Pommery

POMMERY CUVÉE LOUISE 2005

Made only in outstanding vintages and exclusively from three grand cru villages, Cuvée Louise 2005 reflects Pommery’s sig- nature of clarity and restraint. A low-dosage blend of 60 percent Chardonnay and 40 percent Pinot Noir, this wine spent more than 11 years in the house’s chalk cellars. Floral notes of lime blossom and hawthorn give way to ripe stone fruit, followed by a mineral, structured palate firmly grounded in its terroir. This is not a Champagne that aims to dazzle with flash but one that rather demonstrates finesse through balance, purity and texture. $225.

© Martin Ray Winery

MARTIN RAY BLANC DE BLANCS 2019
Crafted in California’s Russian River Valley with méthode traditionnelle precision, this 100 percent Chardonnay sparkling wine exemplifies the craftsmanship and terroir expression that define exceptional Blanc de Blancs. The 40-year-old, dry-farmed vines produce fruit with opulence and bright acidity, yielding a lean and complex profile. Crisp citrus, kumquat and green apple meet subtle salinity and meadow-sweet, while four years en tirage lend delicate texture and fine bubbles. Bracing and focused, this extra brut delivers the structure and versatility expected of its old-world counterparts with a distinctive California brightness that feels simultaneously classic and contemporary. $95.