The 2005 Brut Rose Grande Sendree is an imposing wine loaded with fruit. I am very curious to see how this might develop over the next 5-9 years. Sweet red berries, autumn leaves, flowers and tobacco are some of the notes that frame the finish. This is a striking wine that adds attractive elements of vinosity and richness to flesh out the energetic structure. Disgorged January 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018. Importer: A. Hardy USA, Des Plaines, IL; tel. (847) 298-2358.

The 2004 Brut Rose Grande Sendree offers up sweet candied fruit, maraschino cherries and spices. Here, too, the mousse is not as refined as one might expect from Drappier, while the wine finishes with distinct notes of sweetness that frankly are distracting. It’s hard to see bottle age making a difference here. Disgorged June, 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. This is a strong set of new releases from Drappier, with the exception of the roses, which fall a bit short of the quality level the estate achieves with its other wines. All of the wines show lot numbers, but not disgorgement dates.Importer: A. Hardy USA, Des Plaines, IL; tel. (847) 298-2358.