From the mind of Didier Gimonnet, one of the true Côtes des Blancs rockstars, this is a limited bottling, late disgorged treasure from the fabled 2008 vintage that is guaranteed to make a Valentine's Day repast featuring sashimi or simply prepared shellfish a night to always remember. It's 100% Chardonnay, 76% from the Grands Crus of Cramant, Chouilly and Oger blended with 24% Premier Cru juice from Vertus. After bottling, the wine was aged on yeast for, a mind-boggling 14 years before being disgorged in April of 2023 with no dosage. The result is a Champagne that glistens in the glass with golden highlights (befitting its age) while gentle bubbles lift up a panoply of enchanting patisserie aromas: bread dough, honey, crust, and toasted nuts. Very silky and textual in front palate, it proffers subtle notions of baked apples, hazelnuts and lemon curd that are gradually overtaken by impressions of salt and chalk, as well as the long-play acidity that is so characteristic of the 2008 vintage. Became an immediate staff favorite to the lucky few of us (incuding the one editing this email!) who got to try this amazing juice. This is why Champagnes develop cult followings.
JAMES SUCKLING 96 POINTS - "A very rich Blanc de Blancs Champagne that doesn’t taste bone-dry, thanks to the stunning harmony. Tons of dried pear and apple character is married to a wonderfully creamy and silky palate, the chalky minerality building beautifully at the long, refined finish. A cuvée based on wines from the Grand Cru villages of Chouilly (one third), Cramant (one third) and Oger (10%), plus the 1er Cru villages of Cuis (20%) and Vertus (2%)... Drink now."
JAMES SUCKLING 96 POINTS - "A very rich Blanc de Blancs Champagne that doesn’t taste bone-dry, thanks to the stunning harmony. Tons of dried pear and apple character is married to a wonderfully creamy and silky palate, the chalky minerality building beautifully at the long, refined finish. A cuvée based on wines from the Grand Cru villages of Chouilly (one third), Cramant (one third) and Oger (10%), plus the 1er Cru villages of Cuis (20%) and Vertus (2%)... Drink now."
