Champagne Francis Orban, Brut Rosé

What producers come to mind when we talk about rich, beautifully colored, mesmerizingly complex rosé Champagne under $50? For SommSelect, it’s fan-favorite André Clouet, as well as 2018’s surprise discovery, Henriet-Bazin; both are wines that floor us with their undeniable/unbeatable price-to-quality ratio. But a third contender has entered the arena, literally landing on America’s soils for the very first time last week: Francis Orban’s Brut Rosé.Today’s breathtaking expression comes in at the best comparative price and, subsequently, is vying with our other two favorites. Put simply, if this doesn’t have a serious impact on your perception of Champagne, nothing else will! Francis sustainably farms just seven hectares within two Vallée de la Marne villages (where almighty Krug purchases fruit) and blends an impossibly deep wine that contains a heavy proportion of reserves dating back to 2011. Add in prolonged aging that triples the legal requirement, along with a judicious dosage, and