Benoit Lahaye Brut Nature Grand Cru N.V

Grand Siecle Grande Cuvée Champagne is Laurent Perrier’s luxury cuvée. At the Palace of Versailles Louis XIV was the first French King to drink Champagne. Louis XIV’s era became known as the Grand Siecle – the “Great Century”.

Bottled in a replica of a 17th Century bottle evoking the radiance of that period, Laurent Perrier’s prestige Cuvée embodies luxury, magnificence and elegance. A blend of Pinot Chardonnay and Black, with the latter being slightly dominant.

For the Rolls-Royce of Champagne blending you can’t go much higher than Laurent-Perrier’s luxury Cuvée Grand Siecle. It will please serious drinkers with it’s delicate balance and honeyed, hazelnut flavours.

45% Pinot Noir including 7% of Red Wines from old vineyards, 35% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier
Light orange-pink. Lively red berry and orange zest aromas are complemented by musky rhubarb. Dry and taut on the palate, offering bitter cherry and redcurrant flavors and a touch of licorice. Finishes on a tangy note, with good cut and length

Brut Premier Cru is aged for 5 years in a cellar before undergoing a late disgorgement. The Brut is the result of a harmonious blend of three varieties of grapes: 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. It is enhanced with a small amount of sugar, 6.5g/litre. This Champagne has tastes of white fruits, crystallised fruits, spices and honey.

Gosset where originally based in Aÿ before moving to their current home in Epernay. It makes sense that some of their best parcels are sourced from the Grand Cru of Aÿ along with Ambonnay, Verzy, Chigny-les-Roses and Tauxières.

Gosset Blanc de Noirs N.V – mineral, smoke, leather, cherries, kirsch and coconut making their presence. There is an abundance of minerality all flowing from the Grand Cru terroirs all holding their poise with great acidity, vibrant freshness (no malo) and definitive length.

This is in the same league as Bollinger La Grande Annee 2007.

“I am proud of this limited-edition cuvée, which expresses the finesse and elegance of Pinot Noir, used in our other Gosset wines,’ said Gosset cellarmaster, Odilon de Varine. ‘We are delighted to share this unique wine with all our fellow champagne connoisseurs, followers and friends.”

“Resolutely raw but deliciously greedy, with an exhilarating finesse, it is at once airy and vinous, seductive and invigorating, complex and pure, generous and graceful, subtle and sumptuous. A great wine.”

Technical details: 9 years on lees with the base wine coming from 2007, 5 g/l dosage and 10,000 bottles produced.

This family-owned producer in the Aube region of Champagne has made a pale colored rosé. Dominated by 70% Pinot Noir, it’s ripe and softly rich, its red fruit balanced with an almost-warm acidity that gives it a welcoming character. Drink now.

“Here is the Blanc de Blancs from this exciting new house. All the fruit for this is sourced from Premier Cru sites along the Cote des Blancs including Grauves and highlights a moreish sense of chardonnay.

When we tasted this with co-founder of the house Rodolphe late 2017, we were quietly impressed with the expressive nature of this champagne. The nose presents aromas of acacia, apricot, hazelnut followed by warm butter on toast. We know this sounds fanciful, but there is a LOT going on here.

The taste shows richness and a creamy mousse with soft, almost pillowy texture. Flavours develop into pear, autumn apple and a smoky mineral finish. This is delicious!”

Jacquart Blanc De Blancs 2009, 100% Chardonnay from grand crus vineyards on the Cote des Blanc and premiers crus in viller-Marmery. This wine represents everything that Jacquart holds dear when blending regions renowned for Blanc De Blancs. Fresh outlooks on their winemaking ensure its Longevity following its well received 2006 vintage.

Lively golden straw and gleaming bead, creamy soft buttery savouriness and hints of brioche and toasted nougat, almond and restrained honey. Back bone of crisp acid and lingering citrus stone fruits. Balanced mouthfeel and flowing and stylish champagne. Spring time perfection but best enjoyed ALL YEAR round.

The Vauversin family have been making wine in the Grand Cru village of Oger since 1640.

Laurent Vauversin is the current custodian, having recently taken over the family business from his father Bruno. Laurent’s grandfather took the decision to start making wine on a commercial scale back in 1930 and 84 years later Laurent is continuing the family tradition of growing and producing great Champagne.

The 3ha vineyard in Oger sits on the chalky Côte des Blancs escarpment South of Epernay, an area renowned for its impressive Chardonnay Champagnes. The Laurent’s attitude and ethos towards wine making is clear; be less intrusive, simpler and allow the full flavour and incredible subtlety of the Chardonnay grape assert itself. This ethos is typified in the vineyard’s ongoing organic conversion effort.

Showing fine mousse in the glass and fresh floral aromas mixed with characteristic toasty yeast overtones, balanced by richer fruit and classic baked biscuit flavours, with a crisp citrus finish.

A delicious, persistent rosé that works equally well as an aperitif or with elaborate meals. – Gilbert & Gaillard, 2016.

Colour
Intense salmon pink.

Nose
Displays red berry-fruit aromas of ripe redcurrants, cherries, wild strawberries, giving way to notes of plum.

Palate
A fresh and full style of champagne with a fine finish and notes of peach and apricot.

Technical notes
This cuvée has all the hallmark Chardonnay finesse (35%-40%), rounded out by the ripeness of the Pinot Meunier (25-30%) and the structure of the Pinot Noir, of which 15%-18% is vinified as red wine. The addition of Pinot Noir red wine to the blend (15-18%) and a light dosage of 10g/L result in a very complete, balanced champagne.