Albert Boxler’s 2019 Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé is made entirely from Pinot Noir, and like everything from this benchmark Alsace estate, it is treated as a serious wine rather than an afterthought. Made in the traditional method, the 2019 spent an impressive 40 months on the lees, giving it considerably more depth and refinement than you normally expect from Crémant. Boxler is based in Niedermorschwihr and is best known for some of the region’s great dry wines, and that same attention to terroir, purity and precision carries directly into this tiny-production Rosé. The wine combines fresh red berries, wild strawberry and raspberry with citrus peel, subtle floral notes and a touch of brioche from the extended lees aging. The Pinot Noir gives it more body and savory depth than the regular Boxler Crémant, while the long élevage keeps the mousse fine and creamy. It finishes dry, energetic and mineral, with enough fruit to make it immediately appealing but enough structure and complexity to drink like a serious sparkling wine rather than simple party bubbles.