On the eye: A fine bead and an elegant color. The color evolves gently from a pretty raspberry tint to a hint of salmon. In this color range, the brightest is a pink with subtle shades of melon and raspberry. It owes it quaint name Cuisse de nymphe emue (hot pink, in English), to a rose bush. The bead is so fine that it seems to dance in the glass and then on the palate.

On the nose: Subtle, forthright, and very fresh on the nose. Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose suggests a basketful of small berry fruits: strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, redcurrants, and morello and black cherries. The overwhelming sensation is one of freshness.

On the palate: Fruit dominates the palate. Cuvee Rose is a lively, well-rounded wine which combines structure and freshness. The forthright, slightly sharp attack is like breathing the heady aromas of a freshly-picked basket of berry fruits – a symphony of aromas with a gently-rounded, tender finish.