One of the very top growers in the Côte des Blancs, Diebolt Vallois owns an enviable collection of Chardonnay vineyards-the majority of which lie in Cramant and Cuis, with additional holdings in Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The reputation of the house was built by Jacques Diebolt in the 1970s and 1980's and is now being further burnished by his daughter Isabelle Diebolt. She is an indefatigable perfectionist whose vivid wines have won worldwide acclaim. The winemaking here lavishes attention to detail, with parcel-by-parcel vinification of the family's magnificent collection of vineyards. All of Diebolt-Vallois' Champagnes are worth seeking out, but, for our money, their vintage Blanc de Blancs is the best value play in the lineup. With this 2018, Isabelle Diebolt has outdone herself as this is a fastidiously crafted, perfectly comported Champagne that rivals vintage Grandes Marques Blanc de Blancs costing a hundred dollars and more a bottle. This wine's only downside is that its minuscule (700 case) production makes it nearly impossible to find.
The 2018 Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs brilliantly illustrates the outstanding winemaking expertise of this family-run business. This bottling is the result of a blend of fruit from the Grand Cru of Chouilly with that from the neighboring Premier Cru village of Cuis. Though these villages are adjacent to each other, Chouilly and Cuis are dramatically different. The vineyards in Cuis have a generally northerly exposure and receive considerably fewer sun hours than those of Chouilly. In Cuis, the grapes need an exceptionally warm vintage to realize their full potential while retaining their inherent vibrancy. In addition to more favorable sun exposure, the microclimate of Chouilly is tempered by its proximity to the Marne River making it the warmest cru of the entire Côte de Blancs. 2018 was an exceptionally warm vintage that benefited from ideal weather, enabling the Chardonnay from both villages to achieve perfect expression. Vinification took place in temperature-controlled vats to preserve the purity and finesse of the fruit as well as the subtle minerality. After a full malolactic fermentation, the wine was bottled and aged for five years on the lees to add a delicate silkiness to the ensemble. The cuvée was finished with minimal dosage of 3g/l. The result is a harmonious marriage of the brilliant clarity of Cuis with the texture and body of Chouilly.
DECANTER MAGAZINE 92 POINTS - "All from the northern Côte (Cuis and Chouilly), this is a vintage cuvée that reflects the year's easy charms and open stance. Creamy with white peach and nougat and bright with grapefruit peel and oyster shell. It's snappy rather than structured or tense, tuned deliciously for mid-term drinking yet still offering the smooth, age-complexed texture expected at this level. (Drink between 2024-2040)."
The 2018 Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs brilliantly illustrates the outstanding winemaking expertise of this family-run business. This bottling is the result of a blend of fruit from the Grand Cru of Chouilly with that from the neighboring Premier Cru village of Cuis. Though these villages are adjacent to each other, Chouilly and Cuis are dramatically different. The vineyards in Cuis have a generally northerly exposure and receive considerably fewer sun hours than those of Chouilly. In Cuis, the grapes need an exceptionally warm vintage to realize their full potential while retaining their inherent vibrancy. In addition to more favorable sun exposure, the microclimate of Chouilly is tempered by its proximity to the Marne River making it the warmest cru of the entire Côte de Blancs. 2018 was an exceptionally warm vintage that benefited from ideal weather, enabling the Chardonnay from both villages to achieve perfect expression. Vinification took place in temperature-controlled vats to preserve the purity and finesse of the fruit as well as the subtle minerality. After a full malolactic fermentation, the wine was bottled and aged for five years on the lees to add a delicate silkiness to the ensemble. The cuvée was finished with minimal dosage of 3g/l. The result is a harmonious marriage of the brilliant clarity of Cuis with the texture and body of Chouilly.
DECANTER MAGAZINE 92 POINTS - "All from the northern Côte (Cuis and Chouilly), this is a vintage cuvée that reflects the year's easy charms and open stance. Creamy with white peach and nougat and bright with grapefruit peel and oyster shell. It's snappy rather than structured or tense, tuned deliciously for mid-term drinking yet still offering the smooth, age-complexed texture expected at this level. (Drink between 2024-2040)."
