November 6, 2023 - I am of the opinion that this is the best wine Cruse/Ultramarine has made. Full of balance and freshness, and it has the structure to age for many more years. Sad that I only have 1 remaining.
April 22, 2023 - spritely, fresh, and lighter than expected; not sure if I'd know its a rose and not sure I'd know it's not a champagne. very clean
April 19, 2023 - One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group. The starter before Mark’s 1979 Schramsberg mag and 1980 Montelena mag.
Tasty, but I found this different than the 2014 (still haven’t popped the 2015). Salmon color in the glass with a dash of pink. Faint strawberry marscapone, red berry fruit aromatically. Layers of strawberries and a distinct mineral and rose note, but this seemed lighter and less fruit forward than the 2014. Lovely finish. I felt the 2014 had loads of time ahead of it when I had it, but for me, this seemed either in an odd spot or at a point where it’s time to enjoy. I’d wager it’s more of the former.
April 14, 2023 - JD Friday Wine Group - SA and MF co-host (City Club FW): Served blind - Light pink/salmon in the glass. Bubbles everywhere, but very little mousse. Very small bubbles, but not a continual stream like many champagnes - but we tasted in white wine glasses which is probably why. Some strawberry and other red fruit on the nose. Very fruit forward on the palate, but dry. Very little residual sugar. Decently long finish. This wine was really good. It was not a typical rose champagne, but I had trouble placing it in CA, so I guessed a small grower champagne. I think that is what they are going for...
December 31, 2022 - Pale pink/copper in color. Lots of citrus notes and minerals. Still seems very young, and took 2+ hours to really open up. It’s clear these are of the highest quality, but Im beginning to doubt hype surrounding the label. There are generally better values to be had, so it comes down to house style on whether Ultramarine is “worth” it for you. I’ll keep my other bottles for as long as possible. These may simply be the kind that need time — and lots of it — to reach their full potential.
December 15, 2022 - Sadly my last...must get more. A rose in name only, with zesty citrus and hints of vanilla and floral notes with a stony minerality. Tight, ebullient mousse, ageless...seems 10 years away from any sort of "apogee". I do see some variability in the wines in that some are more fruit forward while other bottles more reserved and minerally. I would definitely put this up against Comtes and others...in fact reminded me a bit of the 1996 Cristal Rose that was tight as a drum at 18 years of age. Hope to try again in like 5 years.
September 29, 2022 - Copper toned pink, zesty citrus nose with hints of vanilla, green apple, hints of flowers. Complex. Long. More to come...
September 21, 2022 - This is good, but I also strongly felt the opportunity cost of not ordering Bouchard, V&S or Collin this evening.
August 9, 2022 - Flat
Was really surprised that this wine is sought after it drinks like a 20$ gas station rose.
August 1, 2022 - pink grape fruit, lemon taffy, oyster shell