Veuve Cliquot Vintage Rosé 2004

Similar fruit to the NV (strawberries, red currant) but more toasty and yeast dominated, and plenty of vanilla on the nose. There is a huge candy hit in the mid-palate that some will love (I however found it disturbed the balance a little), and makes it a great Champagne for food - Christmas turkey would be perfect. Trophy winner Decanter World Wine Awards.

From "Champagne in the Brain" a fizzy rundown of ranges of Veuve Cliquot, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Taittinger and Bollinger, April 2013. Read more>> 

Drink Now or over 3-4 years
15.5/20
450AED + Tax

Veuve Cliquot Rose NV

Generous red fruit on the nose, voluptuous palate full of wild strawberries and biscuit. Lovely length. Slight sweetness (only marginal, it's still a dry wine) and very fine bead. Explosive flavour, very good value.

From "Champagne in the Brain" a fizzy rundown of ranges of Veuve Cliquot, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Taittinger and Bollinger, April 2013. Read more>>

Drink now or over 2 years
17.5/20
345AED + Tax

 

Chateau Correnson Lirac Rose 2010

My love of Lirac is no great secret, and this is a ripper little example. It's so completely redcurranty it's silly. Seriously, if you steeped the little blighters in a little pure alcohol and added just the right amount of sugar, they might taste a little like this. Just not as good. Even a bourbon slugger would be able to isolate the fruit character in this wine. It's got some lovely light tannins and almondy bitterness on the finish which seals off that vibrant nose and front palate nicely. A little candy-like on the finish, which may sway some - for me, it makes it dangerously quaffable. 


Drink now
50AED + Tax
14.5/20

Chapoutier Beaurevoir Tavel Rose 2010

It's such a vibrant shade, bursting with life, deep like a cherry, but with a flame burning behind it. Great example of Tavel, with all the morello and pomegranate you would hope to find, some super-fine tannins and a chewy/crispy redcurrant finish, complete with the acid you would also find in one of those zesty berries. A little sweet spice on the nose keeps it in balance. Serious rose at a less than serious price.

Drink now
50AED + tax
15.5/20

For more information on Tavel, including travel tips, check out this post:
A golden wine triangle - The best Red, White and Rosé in the Southern Rhone

Henri Fabre Pure Dédicace Bandol Rosé 2010

This is probably breaking the rosé budget for many. At about 100AED plus tax in Dubai, it's not going to qualify as a quaffer. However, it's also a very good example of what you get when a winemaker takes rosé seriously. It's richer, fruitier, creamier than any rose I've had recently, and yet, still light in body, and steely dry on the finish. There's extra complexity, something a little cakey and spicy. Almost Eton mess in a glass - strawberries, redcurrant jelly and cream. But with a marzipan twist and dry, beautifully dry. Gorgeous.

Drink now
100AED + tax
16/20