Ruinart’s first vintage rosé release for five years

Maison Ruinart has launched the latest vintage of Dom Ruinart Rosé 1998, its first vintage rosé since the 1996, which was released at the beginning of 2008.

The blend for the Dom Ruinart Rosé 1998 was made using 85% Chardonnay, 66% of this from the Côtes des Blancs (Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger) and 34% from the Montagne de Reims (Sillery, Puisieulx, Verzenay), and 15% Pinot Noir vinfied as red wine from the Sillery and Verzenay Crus.

This is the first vintage Rosé released by Ruinart in just under five years, as the 1996 was released at the beginning of 2008.

Ruinart, Champagne’s oldest house, was established by Nicholas Ruinart in 1729 and last produced a vintage of the Dom Ruinart Rosé in 1996. The house said that the 1998 is a “more classically blended” vintage.

Frédéric Panaïotis, Ruinart Cellar Master comments: “With almost fifteen years of bottle age, the Dom Ruinart Rosé 1998 displays superb maturity and focus, and is showing very nicely already, but I believe has the potential to age further as with its illustrious ancestors, the 1996, 1990 and 1986 vintages.

“The Dom Ruinart Rosé has already met with critical acclaim and I hope will continue to stun critics as it continues to develop.”

The Dom Ruinart Rosé 1998 is available at Fortnum & Mason with an RSP of £230.