Lanson Le Rosé Création
Image: Lucille Beuzelin

Tasting notes: How Lanson’s Le Rosé Création became Wimbledon’s favourite champagne

31 Jan 2025 | | By Felicity Carter

Looking for a pink drink for Valentine’s Day? Robert Rand of Champagne Lanson tells us about the delicacy and richness of the maison's Le Rosé Création

A sip synonymous with Wimbledon, it’s no surprise that Champagne Lanson is one of the UK’s favourite tipples, selling more than a million bottles each year. The long-standing relationship between the British brand and The Championships will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027, but the maison’s strong ties with the UK were forged long before the days of Henman. 

Established in 1760, Champagne Lanson is one of the oldest producers and gained distinction in the 20th century as much for being the official supplier to Britain’s biggest tennis tournament as for its elegant fruity palate and fine bubbles. It was also one of the first champagne houses to produce a rosé in 1833, which then became a permanent offering in 1952. Loved for its subtle salmon pink hue – created by artful mix of red grapes, 6.7 per cent to be exact – Lanson Le Rosé Création blends pinot noirs and meunier to create light but harmonious tasting notes. Ramping up the freshness, Lanson also adheres to the founding principle of champagne vinification without malolactic fermentation, resulting in the vibrant, aromatic palate full of red and citrus fruit notes that has become integral to the Lanson style. We sit down with managing director, Robert Rand, to discuss how Le Rosé Création became the ultimate pink fizz.

Tasting Note 1: Bright and inviting nose

The aroma opens with an enticing blend of fresh red berries, particularly strawberries and raspberries, layered with delicate floral notes of rose petal and a hint of citrus peel. This is driven by the red wine that is added to the blend, a third of which is pinot noir from Grand Cru Bouzy, a third from the Côte des Bar and a third of pinot meunier from the Vallée de la Marne, known for its richness and delicacy. 

Tasting note 2: Vibrant fruit profile

On the palate, Lanson Le Rosé Creation delivers a burst of juicy strawberry and raspberry flavours, with a touch of red currant. The fruitiness is balanced by a lively acidity that adds freshness and vibrancy, creating a dynamic experience. 

Our chef de cave, Hervé Dantan, elaborates his cuvées using traditional methods, avoiding the malolactic process, which creates the added freshness found in all Lanson wines. Dantan is pioneering a library of reserve wines, specifically to drive the ripe fruit profile of his rosé non-vintage wines. These reserve wines make up 29 per cent of the eventual blend, which creates a consistency of style création after création.

Tasting note 3: Elegant texture

The mouthfeel is smooth and refined, with the champagne’s fine bubbles providing a silky, almost creamy sensation. There is a subtle richness that develops mid-palate, adding depth without overshadowing the vibrant fruit character. 52 per cent of the blend is from pinot noir grapes which gives excellent structure and body to this cuvée. 

Tasting note 4: Complex layers

As the wine evolves, secondary flavours of freshly baked brioche, light almond, and a touch of citrus zest emerge, contributing a layer of complexity and sophistication to the tasting experience. These flavours are created by extended ageing on lees. By law champagne must spend 15 months ageing in cellars, whereas Lanson chooses to mature this création on the lees for over four years before disgorgement and shipment. The balance between the fresh fruit and these richer notes is well-executed.

Lanson Le Rosé Création

Tasting note 5: Long, crisp finish

The finish is clean, crisp, and remarkably long, with lingering notes of red berries, citrus zest, and a slight chalky minerality. This citrus note is given from the chardonnay, which makes up 34 per cent of the final blend in the bottle. The refreshing, slightly floral aftertaste leaves a lasting impression of elegance and finesse, making this a highly enjoyable champagne. 

Champagne Lanson Le Rosé Création

£48
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