Olivier Marteaux, Champagne (France) 2016

 In France, there is always an exception.  Rosé Champagne is one of the only regions in the world to make Rosé wines by blending fully macerated wines together.  Olivier Marteaux took the road less traveled.  This Champagne is made in the Saignée method in which, during the process of macerating a red wine, a portion of the juice is removed or “bled” from tanks during from the process.  This leaves a higher skin-to-juice ratio in the remaining macerating wine, thus creating a more bold red wine while the also creating a separate Rosé wine.  To make things even more interesting, this winery is using 100% Pinot Munier, a grape that is relatively uncommon outside the region and rarely flies solo within it.  With a deep pink color, this Champagne presents red fruit, strawberry and raspberry notes but while also showing celery seed, chalk, and leather conditioning oils.  This Rosé Champagne is unusual, and deliciously so.