Champagne Blanc de Blancs - Chardonnay

Guide GaultMillau 2010 : 17 /20
Guide La revue du vin de France 2010 : 15,5-16 /20

"Blanc de Blancs" is the name given to Champagne made only from white grapes (Chardonnay).

It has a very clean taste and nose is fine, delicate, light and lively.

Cuvée Blanc de Blancs - Chardonnay:

Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims, the Massif de Saint-Thierry and the Marne Valley right bank.
Soil types: Mainly flint bearing silty limestone, also clayey limestone.
Average age of the vines: 30 years.
Pruning: Short, Chablis system.

Harvesting: Manual. Severe & successive selection on the plant.
"Late" harvesting to obtain optimum ripeness, a naturally raised alcohol level and to let the aromas blossom.

Pressing. 4000 kg pneumatic press to give a refined, delicate and precise choice of juice. Only the first part of the first pressing is used to make up this cuvée.

Vinification: Classic and traditional in low volume (50 to 100 Hectolitre - 1000 to 2000 gallon) stainless steel vats. Chilling, partial malo-lactic fermentation.

Blending: A proportion of old "reserve" wines, aged in 225 litre barrels, varying from year to year between 10 and 20%, rounds out the range of aromas of this blend and guarantees consistent high quality.

Tasting notes.
Colour: Lively & brilliant pale gold with greenish hints.
Nose: fruity and finely floral, delicate and elegant (white flowers)
Mouth: Agreeably harmonious with notes of subtle fresh flavours.

Serving Temperature: 10°C (50°F)

Marriage with food: Splendid as an aperitif. A good match with oysters, seafood, fine fish "en papillote" - generally refined and subtle foods.

Read the press reviews (in french)...