Winemaker Notes
Pale gold with a myriad of very fine bubbles. Pure and seductive on the nose, revealing notes of ripe fruits, dried fruits, and vanilla. Aromas of white peach, bergamot, hazelnut, almond, and pastries come on after another with finesse and complexity. The wine starts with smoothness and creaminess. A wave of white and citrus fruits, notes of pastries, and finally a very delicate woody note are expressed with harmony. The finish is dense, long, and fresh.
Professional Ratings
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The Somm Journal
From a biodynamically farmed 1-hectare estate plot, this blanc de blancs was vinified in oak and aged 12 years on the lees. The nose simply dazzles in its complexity, suggesting everything from baked apple and white flowers to salted pecan praline and pear chutney. Gorgeous acidity sweeps across a palate that’s simultaneously remarkably fresh, ultra-pure, supple, and expansive, accented by the tang of lemon-lime and sourdough as well as tantalizing hints of chalk and pickled ginger.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a walled vineyard in the city of Reims, this Blanc de Blancs is made in limited quantities. Twelve years aging on the lees has softened the dryness of the Champagne and produced a marvelously toasty, fruity wine. Acidity contrasts with the nutty quality of the wine. The Champagne is at its peak.
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Wine Spectator
A minerally Champagne, with a taut, well-knit frame of acidity, layering wet chalk overtones and iodine with a soft, satiny mousse and flavors of dried white cherry, roasted almond, baked pear and crystalized honey. Lightly mouthwatering on the creamy finish. Disgorged May 2022. Drink now through 2029. 628 cases made, 200 cases imported.
Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’