Two rosé Champagnes in tasting gift pack

De Sousa is presenting two Champagnes – a saignée rosé and an assemblage rosé – in a gift box package.

The two rosé Champagnes have been produced in two different ways, one by the saignée method of 'bleeding' colour from dark-skinned grapes, and the other by adding some still red wine to the (otherwise white) assemblage.

With its Two Roses tasting gift box, the Champagne house of De Sousa unveils both of the recognised Champagne region methods and offers amateurs the opportunity to taste and compare these two methods which give very different results.

The rosé saignée is obtained by first macerating the juice and skin of 100% Pinot Noir in oak casks. The juice is then collected (this is the saignée) and fermented 6-8 months in small oak barrels before maturing for 20 months in the cellars. A process that results in “a rich champagne that is young-tasting but with a long finish, with red berry notes and a beautiful aromatic finesse”.

The rosé assemblage combines Chardonnay (90%) and Pinot Noir (10%), both vinified separately to preserve their wealth of flavours; they will only be assembled at the time of bottling. After 20 months in the cellar, the result is “a very feminine champagne that is light and fresh, with a fruity nose and wild berry flavours”. Each bottle is provided with information that will allow the consumer to learn more about it and decide her/his favourite style of pink.

UK distributors are: Berry Bros & Rudd; Wine Source; and Atlas Fine Wines.

The Champagne house created the packaging design with the help of Ewilina Sage, founder and manager Prestige Conseil.

16 March 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor