Champagne Rousseaux Batteux Assemblage Rose - Extra Brut

Adrien Rousseaux, fourth generation at this 2.6-hectare récoltant-manipulant, refuses to follow a fixed recipe — plots rotate between cuvées, oak regimes shift vintage by vintage, and bottling is dictated by the wine rather than the calendar. That philosophy is nowhere more visible than in this Assemblage Rosé. Fruit is drawn from Grand Cru Verzenay, Verzy, and Louvois, where deep chalk subsoils overlaid with clay and marl deliver the skeletal tension and saline drive that define Montagne de Reims Pinot Noir. Vine age exceeds 50 years across the estate, concentrating extract without sacrificing precision. Vinification begins with a 24-hour cold maceration before the juice moves to fûts de chêne for primary fermentation; new oak is held to approximately 10% — enough to contribute a subtle oxidative frame without imprinting wood flavour. Base wines rest in barrel for 10–12 months, then age on lees for a minimum of 36 months post-disgorgement. The wine is bottled without filtration and without cold stabilisation, so a light sediment is possible. Dosage lands in the extra-brut range (1–5.5 g/l), leaving the chalk-driven structure fully exposed. What sets this apart from virtually every other grower rosé in Champagne is the combination of saignée extraction, barrel fermentation, and zero-filtration bottling at this dosage level — a set of decisions that collectively prioritise terroir legibility over commercial polish. Drink now through 5+ years.