“Un Rosé très osé” — that’s how Didier Gimonnet describes this wine. “A very daring rosé.” And coming from a house that built its reputation on crystalline Blanc de Blancs, it is at least a little daring — but in the most Gimonnet way possible.

Gimonnet is a historic name in the Côte des Blancs, a quiet trailblazer of the grower Champagne movement bottling small-scale Chardonnay-based wines since 1935. Their Rosé de Blancs is, true to its name -- and true to their heritage -- a wine of mostly Chardonnay (93% in this disgorgement) sourced from Premier and Grand Cru sites across the Côte des Blancs (Cuis, Cramant, Chouilly, Oger, Vertus). It’s taut, mineral, mouthwatering — everything you love about Gimonnet's Blanc de Blancs.

But here’s the twist: they add just a pinch of saignée Pinot Noir from Bouzy, a top terroir normally reserved for the most expressive Pinot. That splash of color unlocks a whisper of red fruit. It doesn’t mask the Chardonnay — it brings it into higher relief.

This isn’t a “Pink Champagne” in the party sense. It’s more like a secret weapon for summer pairing: poached salmon, fresh shrimp with aioli, duck breast with cherries -- they will all sing with this at their side. Or just sip it slowly and let the salinity unspool.

Since Gimonnet released this cuvée in 2012, demand has steadily climbed — and in a surprise even to them, it's even more popular now than their flagship “Cuvée Gastronome.” But they’re still only bottling about 1,500 cases per year, and hardly any of that makes its way to CA. We’ve got just a small parcel of the current disgorgement and are thrilled to be able to share it with you here first.

Pierre Gimonnet Champagne Brut 1er Cru Rose de Blancs NV-  $74.99