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Wine Description
The Story
Golden yellow tones shimmering with green highlights accentuate a constant stream of lively, delicate bubbles. The nose opens on deep aromas of candied citrus mixed with scents of white peaches, Granny Smith apples, ginger and lime-flower. The palate shows a lovely delicacy, evolving towards a balance of roundness and power: lively and mature on the attack with chalky, lemony notes underlining a mineral quality that is offset by a suggestion of almonds, nectarines and bergamot.
Pure Chardonnay, 100% Grand Cru, the “Exception Blanche” (white exception) blends together wines from our Mailly Champagne vineyard and the best soils on the Côte des Blancs. This special Vintage Blanc de Blancs will enchant you by its subtle harmony and its balance between minerality and roundness.
Vintage 2002
A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.