Lacourte Godbillon Mi Pentes Pinot Noir Premiere Cru N.V

45% pinot noir, 22% meunier, 33% chardonnay

“There is precision, balance & vibrancy in this champagne & the aromas that greet you are light blue iris, old gold cymbidium orchids & ginger flowers. A beautiful palate awakens with raspberries, morello cherries, ruby grapefruit, pear, white gooseberries, & wild peaches all covered with sweet lime juice. The richness comes from the wonderful reserve wines & some oak influence, & it reflects in cooked apple with nutmeg, honeyed nuts, guava, dried apricots & flickers of mineral & fine chalk.”

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.

 

Brilliant pale gold, with a tight bead and persistent mousse. The chardonnay provides green pear apple and toasted bread on the nose, with distinct wet stone minerality. Lush creamy mousse upon entry, rich full and crisp, with warm toasty elements. Explosive aged Chardonnay elements, intense minerality and great depth of flavor. Length and persistence of Burgundian style Chardonnay in the finish. Regardless of whether a festive occasion, aperitif high class, or with dinner, this wine deserves to be enjoyed with delicate dishes such as a Sole “Meuniere,” steamed lobster, or halibut.

 

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.

 

The elegant lightly creamed mousse coats the mouth with soft lemon, brioche and fine nutty characters evolving through to a captivating finish of gala apple and freshly baked bread. A very fine bead sustains the long complex finish, unfurling further complexity with every sip

 

ORIGINS

Like all of the domaine’s blends, the Champagne GATINOIS Brut Rosé respects and reflects the unique character of the Aÿ terroir. It is made from the “heart of the terroir” comprising 27 parcels on the 7 hectare family domaine and is a true reflection of its powerful and elegant terroir.

BLEND

This subtle and discreet rosé blend is produced from a delicate, secret combination of:

– The traditional blend of our white base wines, consisting of predominantly Pinot Noir and a touch of Chardonnay

– A red wine from “Coteaux Champenois”, produced by Gatinois in small quantities and only in very sunny years. It is made from “petits Pinots d’Aÿ” grown on the Domaine’s two oldest parcels, planted in 1954.

During the blending process, we aim to combine the freshness and festivity of a fine Champagne with the richness, elegance and structure brought by the red wine.

TASTING NOTES

Intense hue with salmon-coloured highlights. Our Grand Cru Brut Rosé displays the characteristic elegant style of Gatinois Champagnes. The nose and palate offer up a subtle bouquet of red fruit (strawberries, blackberries, cherries) and a dash of spice which evolves into lingering notes of morello cherries on the rich finish. The dosage remains discreet at 6g/l.

FOOD PAIRING

A pleasurable champagne, a champagne with heart, characterised by elegance and warmth, ideal for an impromptu aperitif with friends and perfect for gift giving. It is also excellent with food, try it paired with seared Atlantic salmon, pink on the bones, or with desserts such as a red fruit gaspacho.

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.

Named after the light cavalry of Napoléon Bonaparte, in which the soldiers were the first to use the art of sabring, the Cuvée des Hussards is powerful and expressive. This cuvee was elaborated from 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir coming from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards older than 40 years old. 2012 is regarded as the vintage of reference of the last decade.

“Pale and lively. Straight up the nose. Quite different from the wines so far. More lively and tense but good undertow. Fruit not oak expressed here. Racy with depth and undertow. Vibrant “17/20 Jancis Robinson

 

Benoît Lahaye’s Brut Nature highlights his chalk-streaked terroir surrounding the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. This Champagne is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay, 80% from Bouzy and 20% from Ambonnay, all grown on brown chalk; the vines are an average of 35-years-old. Lahaye’s Brut Nature is a fine example of the clarity one can achieve in non-dosage Champagne. Raspberries align with white rocks making this a fine selection for rich seafood dishes, such as lobster bisque.