Dom Perignon Champagne Brut Rose 2003 750ml

Finely detailed in texture, with an expressive flavor profile of strawberry pâte de fruit, biscotti, ground anise and ginger, matched to vivid acidity and a rich, minerally character. Broad and creamy on the palate, featuring a long, echoing finish. Drink now through 2029.

What’s more, the price-quality rapport here is excellent by any Champagne standards, and puts that of many a prestige cuvee to shame. Moet’s 2003 Brut Rose Dom Perignon exhibits both richness and robustness reflecting its torrid vintage, yet manages to stint neither on primary juiciness nor transparency to nuance; nor does it come off as at all heavy. Lightly cooked ripe strawberry and fig infused with rose hip, licorice, Ceylon tea, heliotrope and leather inform a delightfully forward nose and lush, effusively fruity palate. A tart and seedy edge to the strawberry serves for invigoration; and lobster shell reduction serves for mouthwatering salinity and somehow downright sweet animal savor. There is a hint of tannin, but it is fine-grained and suggestive of structural support. A long, seductively rich finish manages to harbor not just the immediately aforementioned virtues, but also a sense of transparency to floral and tea-like nuances and to virtually shimmering stoniness. This alluring and distinctive beauty should be worth following for at least the next half dozen years.

After all these years, the 2003 Dom Pérignon Rosé has finally started to be expressive. In this tasting, the 2003 is distinguished by its vertical build and a real sense of gravitas. The natural power of the year - once quite hidden - now comes through loud and clear.

Here the nose plays right on the edge of reduction though it is nowhere near as pronounced as that of the '06 Dom as there are notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry and plenty of yeast elements that can be discerned. There is fine freshness to the zesty medium-bodied flavors that are quite rich as would befit a wine from the 2003 vintage yet the dense and relatively fine mousse serves to keep the finish refreshing and light on its feet. This is not a Dom Rosé of finesse and refinement but for those who enjoy powerful rosés this would be an excellent choice. Moreover it could actually be enjoyed now though it should have no problem holding for years to come.