The LD in Dominique Portet’s NV Brut Rose ‘LD’ stands for ‘Light Dosage’ (7 g/l). Comprised of 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay, this is a traditional method sparkler in which Pinot Noir is blended with the dosage to give the wine its pink color and it then spends 18 months on lees and 3 months a point. The result is a pale salmon color with delicate aromas of strawberries and cream plus a touch of toast. With crisp acidity and a moderate concentration of flavor with appealing hints of autolytic creaminess and good bubbles, this is a drier but not austere style for drinking now. Dominique Portet does not have a US importer but exports to Dubai, Hong Kong, China, Holland, Canada and Singapore.

Pale, bright pink; a lively and fresh wine with strawberry fruit to the fore; the low dosage provides a vibrantly fresh finish, and does not imperil the balance