Champagne Vilmart and Cie Grand Cellier Brut Premier Cru NV
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough technically not a Grower Champagne (RM) due to Vilmart & Cie sourcing some grapes from around their Rilly-la-Montagne home base, they are certainly in the same authentic, hands-on, small-scale league. It is a 70/30 chardonnay/pinot noir cuvée from 30 year old vines (not to be mistaken with their Grand Reserve, which reverses the grapes in the mix) that has spent ten months in a blend of oak foudre and barrel on the lees (no malolactic fermentation) before heading to bottle for secondary ferment over 30 months. My bottle was disgorged in February 2022 with 7 g/L. It's peculiar to have such a high proportion of chardonnay in pinot noir-dominant Montagne de Reims, though 60% of their grapes are chardonnay, which often yields these wines a natural elegance. Perfumed lemon, toothsome meringue, crunchy green apple sails along the slender frame, with a lemony brace pinning in the sides, finishing with a chalky grip.Tasted: 15 January 2024Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Vilmart and Cie Grand Cellier Brut Premier Cru NV
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough technically not a Grower Champagne (RM) due to Vilmart & Cie sourcing some grapes from around their Rilly-la-Montagne home base, they are certainly in the same authentic, hands-on, small-scale league. It is a 70/30 chardonnay/pinot noir cuvée from 30 year old vines (not to be mistaken with their Grand Reserve, which reverses the grapes in the mix) that has spent ten months in a blend of oak foudre and barrel on the lees (no malolactic fermentation) before heading to bottle for secondary ferment over 30 months. My bottle was disgorged in February 2022 with 7 g/L. Very complete, with green apple, fresh hazelnut, and great toast running a lemon-laced palate, lingering long on the finish with a buzzy vibrato. Everything in place, this harmonious wine is a joy to enjoy now and over the next few years.Tasted: 24 February 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Vilmart and Cie Grand Cellier Brut Premier Cru NV
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough technically not a Grower Champagne (RM) due to Vilmart & Cie sourcing some grapes from around their Rilly-la-Montagne home base, they are certainly in the same authentic, hands-on, small-scale league. It is a 70/30 chardonnay/pinot noir cuvée from 30 year old vines (not to be mistaken with their Grand Reserve, which reverses the grapes in the mix) that has spent ten months in a blend of oak foudre, and barrel, on the lees (no malolactic fermentation) before heading to bottle for secondary ferment over 30 months. My bottle was disgorged in February 2022. An arrow of lemon pith and peel pierces the expansive palate, carving through lemon meringue, pastry, chalk, and green apple, all strung with a taut pithy brace of acidity. Lovely chalky depth on the palate gives this gravitas.Tasted: 25 June 2022Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Vilmart and Cie Grand Cellier Brut Premier Cru NV
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough technically not a "grower champagne" because Vilmart & Cie sources some grapes from around their home base in Rilly-la-Montagne, they are certainly in the same authentic, hands-on, small-scale league, and a highlight of any wine list or tasting. This is a 70/30 chardonnay/pinot noir cuvée (not to be mistaken with their Grand Reserve, which reverses the grapes in the mix) that has spent spent ten months in a mix of oak foudre and barrel, on the lees. Shearing acidity, lemon, biscuit, light toast, with lovely depth on the mid palate, grippy and deep chalky texture and impressive citrus length. Well integrated from start to finish, with alluring finesse and precision.Tasted: 05 December 2016Tasted by: Prices:
quicksearch
