Pretty in Pink: The Best Rosé Champagnes at Every Price Point

Over the past couple of decades, rosé Champagne has skyrocketed in popularity. Since 2000, exports of the salmon-hued sparkler have jumped from a mere 3.14% of the region’s production to around 10% in 2022 and 2023.

But, as the numbers clearly indicate, it’s still just a small slice of the region’s overall production. The limited availability of these coveted bottles—paired with increasing interest in the category—mean they tend to cost significantly more than their non-rosé counterparts.

“It’s all about demand for style that demands extra attention to craftsmanship,” says Wine Enthusiast Tasting Director and Champagne expert Anna-Christina Cabrales.

With white Champagne, winemakers have more room to play around with the seven grapes approved by the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and the chemistry of how they interact with one another to create balance in the bottle.

Similarly, rosé Champagnes can feature any or all of those grapes, as long as either red Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier is present. However, Cabrales says, “winemakers have to be more exacting in their vision to strike the right balance, because they’re adding structure, they’re adding color, they’re adding another layer.”

These blush-toned wines can be made in one of two ways: assemblage (blending white and red grapes) and saignée. The latter, which translates to “to bleed,” are made by squeezing the juice off red grapes after they’ve had time to macerate on the skins. These can be much darker in color are often those “intense meaty styles with tons of tannin and texture,” says Cabrales.

All of this work and consideration makes rosé Champagnes pricier to produce, a price hike that can be passed along to the consumer. Still, they’re absolutely worth exploring.

“These wines can be incredibly compelling and seductive in a sense,” says Cabrales. “Where a rosé now may come off as very youthful and fresh with red fruits and florality, like violet and rose petal, over time as they start to age in the bottle, you can find intense layers of complexities you can’t find in a normal bottle of bubbles.”

These aromas, she adds, can span from iodine, blood orange and toffee notes to overripe, desiccated flavors. Tropical fruits such as guava and passion fruit can also be in the mix. “They become really pretty and also quite versatile,” adds Cabrales. “But it’s really nice to savor them by themselves.”

Whether you want to try out one of the more affordable bottles (think relatively, we’re talking $50 to $70) or go all out with an option that tops $500, we’ve rounded up a selection of highly-rated rosé Champagnes to add to your buying list.

Best/Highest-Rated

Gosset NV 12 Ans en Cave a Minima Rosé (Champagne)

Long aging in Gosset’s cellars has given this rosé Champagne great richness. It is still textured and nervy with a line of minerality alongside the freshness. It is now a perfectly mature wine that is ready to drink. 95 Points — Roger Voss
$ Varies Millesima

Most Expensive

Piper-Heidsieck 2012 Rare Rosé Millésimée Brut (Champagne)

A wonderfully balanced Champagne, this is so poised between red fruits and tight acidity. It is only just mature, with fruit freshness still very present. It can be drunk now for its fruit or, better, wait a year or two to bring in mature complexity. 94 Points — R.V.

$520 Total Wine & More

Perrier Jouët NV Blason Rosé Brut (Champagne)

This is a fruity Champagne. Its light pink color and red-fruit aroma lead to a wine that has soft acidity and floral citrus flavors. Its relatively high dosage gives the wine a soft aftertaste. Drink now. 89 Points — R.V.

$ Varies Wine.com

$200 and Up

Montaudon NV ER3 Fleur de Miraval Exclusivement Rosé Brut (Champagne)

A very pale-colored rosé Champagne, this has a touch of red fruits and a light texture. A tiny production for actor Brad Pitt who owns Château Miraval in Provence, the wine is generous with a fine edge of cookie and spice. Drink now. 93 Points — R.V.

$350 Plum Market

$80 to $200

Palmer & Co NV Rosé Solera Brut (Champagne)

A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this Champagne is piled high with red fruits. Its acidity has been softened by the dosage that also fills out the wine. It is a ripe wine with a light yeasty aftertaste. Drink the bottling now. 89 Points — R.V.

$ Varies Wine.com

Pol Roger 2018 Rosé Brut (Champagne)

There is still some youth in this Champagne. Its red fruits and balancing acidity and texture are finely poised, the wine showing its good percentage of Pinot Noir in the blend. It is already rich and will gradually move into greater maturity. Drink now for freshness or wait until at least 2026 for maturity. 94 Points — R.V.
$ Varies Wine.com

Château Miraval NV Fleur de Miraval Petite Fleur Brut Rosé (Champagne)

Chardonnay with a touch of color from Pinot Noir, the Champagne has a fragrant cut-grass aroma and ripe white and citrus fruits. It is finely textured and ready to drink. 91 Points — R.V.

$110 Wine.com

Alexandre Bonnet 2019 Les Contrées Rosé Extra Brut Pinot Noir (Champagne)

A dark rosé, this comes from a selection of parcels that were vinified separately. Red-currant aromas and lightly structured red-berry flavors give the Champagne richness and a youthful texture. Drink now. 89 Points — R.V.

$ Varies The Finest Bubble

Soutiran NV Rosé Grand Cru Brut (Champagne)

This Champagne is based on the 2020 harvest with the addition of older wines. It is a crisp wine, showing dryness and touches of red fruits. Aromatic and ready to drink. 89 Points — R.V.

$90 Hyde Park Fine Wines

Under $80

Pommery NV Brut Rosé Royal (Champagne)

A blend of the three main Champagne varieties, the result here—with a bit of red skin in the blend—is a pale rosé. With just a touch of tannin to give structure and an edge of minerality, the bottling is young while balanced. It is fruity, red fruits in the background. Drink now. 90 Points — R.V.

$70 Wine.com

Fernand Lemaire NV Tradition Rosé Brut (Champagne)

A light style, fresh and refreshing, this is a deliciously crisp Champagne. With hints of red fruits and citrus, the wine is balanced, fruity and ready to drink. 90 Points — R.V.
$70 Grapes Wine Company

Canard-Duchêne NV Charles VII Brut Rosé (Champagne)

Aged for four years before disgorgement, this Champagne has fine red fruit and citrus flavors well integrated. A light minerality is apparent, giving the texture a tang at the end. Drink now. 92 Points — R.V.

$ Varies Plum Market

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