Geoffroy Rose Champagne

91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "(disgorged April, 2006) Dark pink with a fine bead. Rich, smoky red fruits on the nose, with a hint of bitter cherry skin. Full, deep and dry, with serious, concentrated redcurrant and wild strawberry flavors, medium to full body and a chewy texture. Finishes dry and long, with an echoing bitter cherry note. This would be great with lighter game dishes or pungent cheeses." (Nov/Dec 06) A very fun bottle of all Pinot Noir Rosé from Champagne's warmest micro-climate: Cumieres! (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer) According to importer Terry Theise: "GEOFFROY ROSE, the agony, the ecstasy . . . the spotty availability! We had some 2003 disgorged 10/05, which is basically vanished at the winery. Naturally it's only just starting to show its fruit, and if you have any it's a charmer, marrying substance and buoyancy, and 11g.l. RS. Next up there'll be an `04, to be disgorged June `06 and shipped in the Fall, from which I tasted a zero-dosage pre-disgorgement sample; it had less body but more relief than the `03; loaded with primary fruit. Finally we drank a 2000 just for the hell of it; smelled yummy! Frustrated the crap out of me, because this is what these wines are never given the chance to become, we snarf them down so soon. Second-stage Pinot flavors don't subdue the smiling primary fruit."