The Rosé de Saignée Charles Gardet 2005 from the house of Gardet is an exemplary champagne. It is one of the very rare rosés to be made by maceration and which is also a vintage champagne.
It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from old vines planted on Premier Cru terroirs, and made using the free run method, that is to say by allowing the grapes to macerate for several hours during pressing to obtain a colored and very aromatic juice.
It is an extremely delicate operation which requires precision and skill and it is no doubt for this reason that this method is much less common than the technique of blending white wine and red wine from Champagne to obtain a rosé.
With more body than a blended rosé, it is a champagne with red fruit aromas, ideal for serving at table.
