Langlois-Chateau – Cremant de Loire Rose NV 75cl Bottle

Delicate partridge-eye colour due to the age on lees. This varietal wine is a perennial favourite and often sells faster than Langlois can produce it, although they never compromise on quality to release early. The flavours are of pure raspberry and blackcurrant with a freshness that leaves a good many more illustrious sparkling Roses standing. The Cremant de Loire Appellation is among the most demanding sparkling wine appellations in France (far more stringent than, for example Saumur or Vouvray Brut, for the former of which the Langlois wines would naturally qualify). Under the auspices of Bollinger, Langlois has further augmented the regulations to equal, and even exceed, those of Champagne: A majority of chalky soils, very favourable to elegant wines. Hand picking in small baskets in order to collect only the best grapes. 150 kg of grapes for 100 litres of must. A minimum maturing of 12 months in bottle. Selection of the grapes on the best terroirs of the area of Saumur. Total control of the pressing on a pneumatic press. Fermentation in small vats, allowing precise control. A minimum maturing of 24 months in bottle, or more, depending on the cuvee. Don’t be a Scrooge and crack open a dirt-cheap pink hoping the hue will mask its faults. It won’t. Serve instead this redcurrant and strawberry laden rose made, a la methode champenoise, from cabernet franc grapes, and rejoice. Jane MacQuitty The Times 22 November 2008.