2014 Sylvain Dittiere “La Porte Saint Jean Six Roses” Méthode Champenoise Sparkling Rosé, Loire Valley, France.
Domaine Sylvain Dittiere, founded in 2010, is an all natural/organic estate in Saumur-Champigny focused on Cabernet Franc wines, and after being mentored by two legends, Thierry Germain and Antoine Foucault of the fabled Clos Rougeard, Sylvain has gained quite a reputation and has a cult like following. Apart from his earthy and dense Cabernet Franc reds, comes his delicate and intriguing sparkling wine. Imported by Floraison Selections, Sylvain Dittiere is a star, I love his Cabernet Franc, especially his Saumur-Champigny Rouge, La Porte Saint Jean.
The Dittiere Six Roses Sparkling Rosé, which is crafted using the Champagne method, and is aged 2 years before disgorgement. Dittiere blended Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc & Cab Franc from the 2014 vintage for the base wine and uniquely macerated it with rose petals. This bubbly, could hardly bring anymore of a sensual image to mind, especially if you let your mind wander, it would seem to be pure seduction in a bottle. A lot of thought and work went into this gorgeous dry Rosé méthode champenoise sparkler, that was disgorged in 2017, and it offers a ton of quality for the price, it is really drinking well right now.
This is pretty stuff with a fine and yeasty mousse and lightly perfumed with hints of rose oil, impressive for it’s balance and depth of flavors, it’s far from a gimmicky thing, it shows wonderful finesse and class showing bright intensity and crisply dry bubbly. The palate has a mix of citrus, stone and red fruits with a lemon burst, strawberry, sour cherry and hint of peach with a brioche/leesy note adding elegance along with a touch of mineral, spice and wet stone. While Sylvain’s reds are raw, masculine and earthy, his Sparkling Rosé is lacy, seductive and brilliantly feminine, drink this anytime and anywhere, it’s wonderful as an aperitif and surprisingly good with sushi and lighter cuisine.
($27 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive