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    14:07 PM
  • Wine average?

    90 Tb
  • Country Ranking?

    732
  • Region Ranking?

    69
  • Popularity ranking?

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Since before 1750 the Gimonnet family have been vine growers in the village of Cuis, supplying the great Champagne houses with grapes up until the 1930's recession. As the sales of grapes fell during this prolonged recession, Monsieur Pierre Gimonnet finally decided to take up the challenge of vinifying and commercializing his own harvest. It was a great struggle at first, establishing a clientele who were not, at that time, accustomed to "blanc de blancs" Champagnes, not least from a new small independent producer.

The effort finally paid off and today the name of Champagne Pierre Gimonnet et Fils is one of great renown, and highly respected. Pierre Gimonnet built this reputation on the base of his unique and exceptional vineyard, half a century of experience and the uncompromising standards that he imposed upon himself. The estate is now run by Pierre's sons, Michel and Didier, who share the fanaticism of their father for the Gimonnet Champagnes.

In 1987 the Gimonnet family acquired the house of Larmandier Père et Fils based in Cramant. This brought some exceptional vineyards to the Gimonnet enterpise. Although the Larmandier wines are vinified at the Gimonnet cellars in Cuis the cuvées are vinified and aged seperately. Consequently some remarkable Champagnes are produced from the Cramant Grand Cru vineyards, especially the outstanding Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs and the exquisite Cramant Grand Cru Special Club.The policy of the estate, from the very beginning, in the true traditions of all great wine makers was to limit the production of grapes in the search of quality, with the ambition to become one of the great specialists of "blanc de blancs" Champagnes.

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History

The Gimonnet family owns 26 hectares of vineyards in some of the best sites of the Côtes de Blancs, notably in Cuis and the Grand Crus vineyards of Cramant. The Gimonnet's have been wine growers since before 1750 and were one of the first families to start estate bottling during the 1930's recession. Due to the privileged location of the vineyards the Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Champagnes are quite exquisite, with all the elegance, racy styling and complexity that Chardonnay can bring to a Champagne. Reduced yields and a passion for quality make these Champagnes highly sought after and among the very best from a single grower.

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Vineyards

The cellars are situated in the village of Cuis, all of the vines are closely grouped together on exceptional sites within the "Côte des Blancs", somewhat of a rarity in Champagne: 13 hectares are Cuis 1er Cru (with prime vineyard locations of "Croix-Blanche" and "Les Roualles"). The remaining 13 hectares are situated in the best "terroirs" of the Cramant Grand Crus ("Le fond du bateau", "Les Buissons", "Les Gros Monts", "Les Briquettes and "La Croix") and the Chouilly Grand Crus ("Les Montaigus" and "les Corrées").

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Winemaking

As with all top Champagnes, the most extreme care is taken with the harvesting and vinification of the grapes. Only small containers are used to carry the grapes to the vinification cellar, preventing premature damage and oxidation. The grapes are gently pressed 2 traditional vertical Champagne presses and the musts are cooled for clarification. After about 10 hours, when the heavier sediments have fallen, the musts are racked and the fermentations begin. Each parcel of the vineyard is vinified apart, providing Didier Gimonnet with a wide selection of wines from which to create the perfect blend at a later date. The malolactic fermentation always take place, allowing a better evolution of the aromas and flavours and prolonging the longivity. Before bottling in April, the wines undergo a "cold treatment" in order to precipitate the bi-tartrates, followed by a Kieselguhr filtration. After bottling and the addition of the "liqueur de tirage" the bottles are transfered to the ageing cellars, where the temperature is a constant 8/9°C, for a period of at least 18 to 24 months for non vintage Champagnes and 4 to 6 years for the vintage Champagnes. The traditional "remuage" or bottle turning is performed manually. Disgorging takes place 3 to 6 months before the wine is sold. The dosage of the "liqueur d'expédition" is always at a low percentage, and is derived from the estates older wines, ensuring that the true "blanc de blancs" characteristics are maintained.


Every year the wines are created with quality and continuity in mind, producing the best possible results from the grapes available. This inevitably means that the vintage Champagnes are only produced in very good to exceptional years. 

The Champagne "Special Club" vintage is a blend of the most outstanding wines from an exceptional year. Composed of wines from 6 to 8 vineyards, this very exclusive Champagne is rarely made due the exacting standards ensured by the "Club des Viticulteurs Champenois" - an exclusive club of only 40 members, grouped from all parts of Champagne with one common aim: to create the greatest Champagnes.
The cuvées "Fleuron Brut" and "Gastronome Brut" are produced from the exceptional wines not used for the "Special Club" and from those wines which best express the characteristics of the vintage.
The "Maxi Brut Oenophile", from the old vines at Cramant, is a Champagne that receives no dosage or "liqueur d'expedition" to sweeten it up. This Champagne is aged for 6 years in bottle before it's commercial release.
The non vintage "Cuis 1er Cru" incorporates wines from the most recent harvests, aiming to produce a consistent Champagne, both well balanced and consistently flavoured.

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Inside information

The "Cuis 1er Cru" is the only Gimonnet Champagne to include the "vins de tailles" or the last wine from the press. This adds to the fruitiness of the wine, without taking away the finesse. The nose is very expressive, full of rich fruit - often of pears and soft creamy vanilla. On the palate the Champagne is lively, fresh and creamy, with none of the greenness often associated with non vintage "blanc de blancs". This is the ideal aperitif Champagne 


The vintage "Fleuron Brut", with its fine bubbles and firm, persistent mousse, has lovely, fresh charming aromas, typically of flowers and honey. On the palate this Champagne is always rich and very well balanced, with deep fruit flavours of honeyed apples, persisting for a long, luxurious finish. A Champagne that is perfectly suited for consumption throughout a meal.
The vintage "Gastronome Brut" has a stunning concentration of fruit, given off from the mass of scintillating tiny bubbles, culminating in a sensational, firm mousse. The palate is soft and delicate with glorious depth, rich exotic fruit flavours, and nutty overtones. This is a very sophisticated Champagne, owing much to its soft ripe acidity. 


Thanks to the old vines and long bottle ageing, the "Maxi-Brut Oenophile" shows none of the disappointing aspects of many non-dosed Champagnes that regularly appear on the market. Having dominant aromas of toast and dried fruits, the bouquet is clean and fresh. On the palate the Champagne is electrifying, with excellent structure enveloped in wonderfully tiny bubbles and great acidity. For a non-dosed Champagne the finesse and astonishing balance is unbelievable. The perfect accompaniment for oysters.


The "Rosé 1er Cru", somewhat of a stranger in this Champagne house renowned for its "blanc de blancs", is in no way overshadowed by its more prestigious stable mates. This Champagne combines the finesse of the Chardonnay with the fruitiness of the Pinot Noir, the result is sublime. The bouquet is very fresh, both fruity and floral, the bubbles fine and persistent. The palate thrilling, with plenty of fruity acidity, lacking in so many rosé Champagnes, and distinctive, pure berry fruit flavours.


The "Champagne Special Club" is indeed very special! The bubbles are miniscule and persistent, giving rise to a perfect, firm, mousse - a characteristic of a truly great "blanc de blancs". The nose is extremely elegant, with clean, deep enchanting fruit aromas. On the palate the fine exquisite bubbles tickle the tongue in a symphony of tiny explosions that are ever persistent! On the the palate this Champagne is perfection, with great depth and masses of flavour balancing the liveliness into a long rich and elegant finish. An extremely charming Champagne that ages with great dignity, developing classic Burgundy characteristics.

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20 different wines with 59 vintages

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