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Wine Description
The Story
Prestige cuvée since 1971
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.
Fruit of a severe selection, it is "the optimal expression of our soils". The blend is composed exclusively of Chardonnay, mostly from "Cramant Grand Cru" and old vines (50% of our vines are over 40 years old, the two "doyennes" are 100 years old ...). 20 to 30% of the blend comes from our "Cuis 1er Cru" vineyard.
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.
This cuvée is the result of a very careful job at all stages of elaboration. The blending is made exclusively with Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. The grapes come from over 40 years old vines – the oldest vines were planted in 1911 and 1913.
The Special Club is mainly composed of the hearts of each terroir – Cramant Grand Cru, completed by Chouilly (Montaigu) and a touch of Cuis 1er cru to bring freshness – signature of Pierre Gimonnet & Fils style.
This “nec plus ultra” cuvée is distinguished by a very silky texture, finesse and elegance.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
Terroirs: 100% Côte des Blancs (86% Grand cru & 14% 1er cru)
60% CRAMANT Grand Cru (16% Bateau, Gros Mont; 14% Briquettes, 16% Buissons and 14% Terroir.)
26% CHOUILLY Grand Cru (Montaigu)
14% CUIS 1er Cru (Croix-Blanche and Roualles)
Vinification:
- Grapes harvested manually
- split pressing
- cold settling
- temperature controlled alcoholic fermentation
- malolactic fermentation
- stainless tanks for 8 months on lees
- cold stabilization (-4°) and filtration
- bottling 26th April 2016
- ageing in bottle more than 4 years
- disgorgement 3 months before shipping
- dosage EXTRA BRUT (RS 5 g/L)
- annual production: 29,070 bottles and 1,470 magnums