Vilmart & Cie’s NV Cuvée Rubis Brut Rosé 1er Cru is a grower-Champagne rosé from the Premier Cru vineyards of Rilly-la-Montagne and nearby Villers-Allerand in the Montagne de Reims. Led by fifth-generation vigneron Laurent Champs, the estate is known for oak handling and a brisk, structured style. Rubis is built around Pinot Noir, blended with a smaller portion of Chardonnay; Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate specifies 90% Pinot Noir “including 15% red wine” and 10% Chardonnay.

Winemaking choices lean toward texture without sacrificing cut. The wine is vinified in large oak casks, with malolactic fermentation blocked, then aged on the lees before release. This lot was disgorged in July 2024 and finished at a Brut dosage of 8 g/L, according to both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Wine Advocate also reports it is “based on the 2022 vintage, complemented by 50% reserve wines from 2021 and 2020,” while Vinous cites a “base 2023,” underscoring the multi-vintage nature of the cuvée.

The best reviews are notably strong. Wine Spectator (93 points) calls it “fine and harmonious,” highlighting “pinpoint integration” across “pureed raspberry, blood orange granita, lime peel, biscuit and mineral notes” supported by a “spine of chiseled acidity,” concluding it is “concentrated yet ethereal.” Jeb Dunnuck (93 points) finds it “fruity and inviting,” with “ripe raspberries, cherry blossoms” and “sweet citrus,” and praises its “lively mousse” and “crisp freshness.”

Other critics reinforce the wine’s approachability and amplitude. Vinous (91) describes it as “soft, open-knit and quite approachable,” with “kirsch, cranberry and chalk inflections” and a “long, subtly persistent finish.” Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (90) calls it “full-bodied, expressive and ample,” noting its “most indulgent” positioning in the range and suggesting it “pairs beautifully with dishes like tuna or red meat.” Wine Spectator projects a drinking window through 2030, while Dunnuck suggests it will show well over the next 5–7 years.