Vilmart & Cie Cuvée Rubis Rosé Brut Premier Cru NV – 93 Points Wine Spectator

93 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR! 92 POINTS DECANTER! 90% PINOT NOIR! PREMIER CRU CHAMPAGNE! TEN MONTHS IN OAK! THE MAGNIFICENT VILMART & CIE CUVÉE RUBIS ROSÉ – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST EXCITING GROWER ROSÉS FOR JUST $165!

93 Points – Wine Spectator | 92 Points – Decanter | 92 Points – Vinous

Vilmart & Cie Cuvée Rubis Rosé Brut Premier Cru NV – Champagne, France

RRP $165 per bottle

NOW THIS IS A SERIOUSLY EXCITING ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE!

There are rosé Champagnes that are delicate, light and made primarily for celebrations.

There are rosé Champagnes that look beautiful in the glass but offer very little beyond their appearance.

And then there are rosé Champagnes made by exceptional growers, from magnificent vineyards, with the structure, depth and complexity of genuinely great wine.

VILMART & CIE CUVÉE RUBIS IS FIRMLY IN THAT FINAL CATEGORY!

From the Premier Cru vineyards of Rilly-la-Montagne in the Montagne de Reims comes one of Champagne's most distinctive Pinot Noir-dominant rosés.

And here's what makes this wine so exciting.

90% PINOT NOIR!

10% CHARDONNAY!

15% RED WINE IN THE BLEND!

TEN MONTHS IN LARGE OAK CASKS!

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

This is not a Champagne built around sweetness or simple fruit.

This is a Champagne built around structure.

Texture.

Depth.

And remarkable freshness.

Think wild strawberries.

Fresh raspberries.

White cherries.

Pomegranate.

Blood orange.

Rose petals.

Freshly baked brioche.

And a wonderfully long, chalky mineral finish.

93 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR!

92 POINTS DECANTER!

92 POINTS VINOUS!

PREMIER CRU CHAMPAGNE!

JUST $165 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves serious Pinot Noir, beautifully crafted grower Champagne or genuinely outstanding rosé, this is a magnificent wine to discover.

Vilmart & Cie – One of Champagne's Great Grower Producers

The story of Vilmart & Cie begins in 1890.

Founded in Rilly-la-Montagne, this historic family-owned Champagne house has developed an extraordinary reputation for producing wines of character, elegance and remarkable complexity.

Generations of the Champs family have shaped the estate.

Laurent Champs was instrumental in establishing Vilmart's modern reputation, with Thomas Champs representing the next generation.

What makes Vilmart particularly fascinating is its approach to winemaking.

The house is celebrated for its use of large oak casks.

Not to overwhelm the fruit with oak flavour.

But to develop texture.

Complexity.

And extraordinary integration.

Vilmart also avoids malolactic fermentation, preserving the natural freshness of the grapes.

The result is a house style that combines generosity with remarkable precision.

THE DEPTH OF GREAT WINE WITH THE ELEGANCE AND FINE BUBBLES OF CHAMPAGNE!

And Cuvée Rubis is one of the most exciting expressions of that philosophy.

Rilly-la-Montagne Premier Cru – The Heart of This Extraordinary Rosé

RILLY-LA-MONTAGNE PREMIER CRU!

Located in the Montagne de Reims, Rilly-la-Montagne is a highly regarded Champagne village with a long history of producing exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The vineyards benefit from limestone-rich soils and a cool continental climate.

These conditions help the grapes retain freshness while developing excellent flavour concentration.

Pinot Noir contributes depth, structure and expressive red fruit.

Chardonnay contributes freshness, precision and elegance.

Together, they create a Champagne that is wonderfully balanced.

But this is not simply about the classification.

It is about the quality of the vineyards.

The care taken in growing the fruit.

And the remarkable winemaking that follows.

PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS – AND A ROSÉ THAT DELIVERS SERIOUS DEPTH AND CHARACTER!

90% Pinot Noir – A Rosé with Real Substance

Now here's the first thing that makes Cuvée Rubis particularly exciting.

90% PINOT NOIR!

This is an unusually Pinot Noir-dominant blend for a Champagne that also includes Chardonnay.

And it gives the wine a wonderfully distinctive personality.

Pinot Noir contributes beautiful red-fruit intensity.

Wild strawberries.

Raspberries.

Cherries.

And subtle spice.

It also contributes structure and depth.

The palate has genuine presence.

A wonderful sense of concentration.

And the ability to accompany serious food.

The remaining 10% Chardonnay provides balance.

Freshness.

Citrus definition.

And mineral precision.

THE RICHNESS OF PINOT NOIR WITH THE ELEGANCE OF CHARDONNAY!

15% Red Wine – The Secret to That Magnificent Ruby Colour

Another fascinating aspect of Cuvée Rubis is how the rosé is made.

15% RED WINE IN THE BLEND!

Vilmart uses the traditional rosé d'assemblage approach.

This involves blending still red wine with white base wine before the Champagne undergoes its second fermentation.

In Cuvée Rubis, the red wine component accounts for 15% of the total blend.

This is important.

Because the red wine contributes much more than colour.

It brings additional red-fruit character.

Structure.

Texture.

And complexity.

The result is a beautifully coloured Champagne with genuine depth.

THIS IS ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE WITH REAL PINOT NOIR PERSONALITY!

Ten Months in Large Oak Casks – Extraordinary Texture

Now here's one of the most fascinating details of all.

TEN MONTHS IN LARGE OAK CASKS!

Vilmart is famous for its thoughtful use of oak.

The base wines spend approximately ten months in large oak casks before blending and bottling.

These large vessels help develop complexity without dominating the delicate fruit.

The result is a wine with beautiful texture.

Wonderful integration.

And subtle savoury depth.

The oak influence is not about making the Champagne taste heavily woody.

It is about giving the wine additional dimension.

A richer mouthfeel.

A more layered palate.

And beautifully integrated fruit.

Think red berries.

Delicate spice.

Fresh pastry.

And a gentle nutty complexity.

THE STRUCTURE OF GREAT PINOT NOIR WITH THE BEAUTIFULLY INTEGRATED TEXTURE OF OAK-MATURED CHAMPAGNE!

No Malolactic Fermentation – The Secret to the Freshness

Another defining feature of Vilmart is its decision to avoid malolactic fermentation.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

Malolactic fermentation converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid.

Many Champagne producers encourage this process to create a rounder, softer style.

Vilmart takes a different approach.

The estate preserves the natural acidity of the grapes.

And that freshness is particularly important in Cuvée Rubis.

Because this is a Champagne with generous Pinot Noir fruit and beautifully developed texture.

The natural acidity provides balance.

It keeps the palate vibrant.

It gives the wine tension.

And it delivers a beautifully refreshing finish.

RICH, GENEROUS AND TEXTURED – YET EXTRAORDINARILY FRESH!

Reserve Wines – Adding Depth and Complexity

Another important element of Cuvée Rubis is the use of reserve wines.

Rather than relying exclusively on a single harvest, Vilmart blends the current vintage with carefully retained wines from previous years.

For the documented 2023-base release, the reserve wines come from 2021 and 2022.

These wines contribute additional complexity.

Depth.

And balance.

The younger wine brings fresh fruit and energy.

The older wines contribute texture and maturity.

Together, they create a beautifully layered Champagne.

A wine that offers the excitement of youthful red fruit with the depth of mature reserve wines.

FRESHNESS, COMPLEXITY AND EXTRAORDINARY BALANCE!

Traditional Bottle Fermentation – The Art of Great Champagne

Following blending, Cuvée Rubis undergoes its second fermentation in bottle.

This is the traditional Champagne method.

The wine develops its bubbles naturally through fermentation.

It then matures on its lees, developing additional complexity and a finer mousse.

Published distributor information describes more than 30 months on lees for a documented release.

During this period, the wine gains texture.

The bubbles become beautifully integrated.

And delicate savoury notes develop.

Brioche.

Biscuit.

And subtle pastry.

The result is a rosé Champagne that combines expressive fruit with wonderful maturity and finesse.

THIS IS SERIOUS TRADITIONAL-METHOD CHAMPAGNE!

A Beautifully Balanced Brut Rosé

Despite its richness, Cuvée Rubis remains beautifully fresh.

The producer's published specification for the 2023-base blend lists a dosage of 7 grams per litre.

An earlier 2022-base specification lists 8 grams per litre.

Both are within the Brut category.

The dosage provides balance without overwhelming the natural fruit or acidity.

The result is a Champagne that is dry, generous and wonderfully harmonious.

THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF FRUIT, FRESHNESS AND TEXTURE!

93 Points – Wine Spectator

A magnificent endorsement of this outstanding Premier Cru rosé Champagne.

92 Points – Decanter

92 Points – Vinous

The result is a Champagne with wonderful depth and a remarkably elegant finish.

Wild Strawberries, Raspberries, Blood Orange and Rose Petals

Now this is where Vilmart Cuvée Rubis really comes into its own.

In the glass, the wine displays a beautiful ruby-pink colour.

The bubbles are fine and persistent.

And the aromas are wonderfully expressive.

Wild strawberries.

Fresh raspberries.

White cherries.

And ripe pomegranate.

Then come the more complex characters.

Blood orange.

Rose petals.

Delicate spice.

And freshly baked brioche.

On the palate, the wine is magnificent.

There is beautiful Pinot Noir concentration.

Wonderful red-fruit intensity.

And a rich, beautifully integrated texture.

But the acidity is what makes everything work.

Fresh.

Vibrant.

And wonderfully precise.

The mousse is fine and creamy.

The finish is long, mineral and beautifully persistent.

RICH, GENEROUS AND FULL OF RED-FRUIT CHARACTER – YET ELEGANT, PRECISE AND EXTRAORDINARILY FRESH!

This is exactly what great grower rosé Champagne should be.

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of Cuvée Rubis is its versatility at the table.

This is not simply a Champagne for an aperitif.

Its Pinot Noir structure makes it particularly exciting with food.

Duck Breast with Cherries

A magnificent pairing. The red-fruit character of the Champagne complements duck beautifully.

Kingfish Crudo

Excellent with citrus and delicate herbs.

Pan-Seared Scallops

A wonderful pairing with browned butter.

Grilled Lobster

The wine's richness and freshness complement lobster beautifully.

Blue Swimmer Crab

Beautiful with fresh crab, citrus and herbs.

Roast Chicken

The savoury complexity makes this a wonderful match.

Charcuterie

An outstanding pairing with prosciutto, salami and pâté.

Salmon

Beautiful with lightly seared salmon or salmon tartare.

Strawberry Desserts

Particularly appealing with fresh strawberries and restrained sweetness.

Serve in a proper white-wine glass at approximately 9–11°C to appreciate its complexity.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about wines that offer something genuinely special.

Wines with character.

Wines with extraordinary vineyard pedigree.

And wines that demonstrate the remarkable quality of the world's best growers.

Vilmart & Cie Cuvée Rubis ticks every box.

First, there is the producer.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREAT FAMILY-OWNED GROWER HOUSES!

Then there are the vineyards.

RILLY-LA-MONTAGNE PREMIER CRU!

Then there is the blend.

90% PINOT NOIR AND 10% CHARDONNAY!

Then there is the rosé winemaking.

15% RED WINE IN THE BLEND!

Then there is the maturation.

TEN MONTHS IN LARGE OAK CASKS!

Then there is the freshness.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

Then come the scores.

93 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR!

92 POINTS DECANTER!

92 POINTS VINOUS!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $165 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves serious Pinot Noir, magnificent grower Champagne and beautifully textured rosé, this is an extraordinary wine to discover.

A Champagne with pedigree.

A Champagne with personality.

And a Champagne that combines rich red-fruit character with remarkable freshness and precision.

93 POINTS. 90% PINOT NOIR. PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS. TEN MONTHS IN OAK. JUST $165.

Vilmart & Cie Cuvée Rubis Rosé Brut Premier Cru NV – one of Champagne's most compelling grower rosés and a magnificent addition to the Liquid Vibe collection.

Wine Details

• Producer: Vilmart & Cie

• Wine: Cuvée Rubis Rosé Brut

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Rilly-la-Montagne

• Classification: Premier Cru

• Grape Varieties: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay

• Rosé Production: Assemblage including 15% still red wine

• Style: Brut Rosé Champagne

• Base Wine Maturation: Ten months in large oak casks

• Malolactic Fermentation: Not undertaken

• Reserve Wines: Previous harvests; 2021 and 2022 in the documented 2023-base blend

• Lees Ageing: More than 30 months in a published earlier release

• Dosage: 7 g/L in the documented 2023-base blend; 8 g/L in the 2022-base blend

• Alcohol: Approximately 12.5%

• Aromas: Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, rose petals and brioche

• Palate: Rich, textured and elegant, with fine bubbles, vibrant acidity and a long mineral finish

• Critic Scores: 93 Points – Wine Spectator; 92 Points – Decanter; 92 Points – Vinous (2022-base release)

• RRP: $165 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Duck, salmon, scallops, lobster, crab, charcuterie and roast chicken

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now or cellar carefully for further development