n.v. Franck Pascal, Tolerance, Rose Brut Champagne, France.
The latest release and disgorgement of Tolerance Rose from Franck Pascal is stunning and a gorgeous wine, one of my top Champagne’s of the year! I love this bubbly, it’s always a favorite of mine, it has beautiful color, vitality and depth with lingering life and majestic detail, this is a classic grower’s bubbles that delivers everything to near perfection. The Tolerance Rose is a similar blend to Reliance, about 60% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay with a small amount of still red wine made from both Meunier and Pinot Noir, plus a bit of reserve wine to add character. This is about as unique and as good as it gets for Rose, it is vigorous and full of energy, but has silken tannins and remarkable elegance showing a bright pink hue, shiny tiny bubbles with an ultra fine mousse along with a sexy palate of wonderful pleasure and complexity, it is certainly Extra Brut in feel with brisk intensity and charm. The nose starts with a delightful citrus, red peach, yeasty brioche, white currants and the impression of rosewater and strawberry which all also unfold in the mouth with great life and expansion, this Champagne, which is super dry with only 4 g/l of sugar in the dosage, has amazing textual harmony, graceful lines and is pure seduction, this and Vilmar’s Rubis are certainly my top non-vintage Rose choices for the year! Added elements of mineral, chalk, hazelnut and tangy cherries play subtle roles in the background, this is a sublime effort, drink from 2015 to 2020, also be sure to drink this with cuisine, though it is great on it’s own it really gets interesting with food, world class Pinot Meunier and terroir driven stuff again from Franck Pascal!
($74 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive
