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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
Vintage 2012
The next most exceptional vintage since 2008. A truly difficult growing season saw severe frosts in the winter. March brought warmth but early budbreak made the vines vulnerable to spring frosts. Overall, the early growing season was wet, and mildew became a serious issue. However, conditions improved dramatically in the later summer months. An August heatwave resulted in a rapid accumulation of sugar, but fortunately the nights remained cool, which helped to preserve acidity. Although yields were low (averaging at 9,210 kg/ha) due to frost, hail and disease early in the season, the 2012 harvest was exemplary in its maturity, acidity and grape health. A rare high acid, high sugar September harvest with impeccable concentration of flavour and refreshing vibrancy. Pinot Noir is the superstar of the vintage, though Pinot Meunier excelled too. A vintage that promises great longevity for the finest cuvées, it was widely declared by producers. However, Krug decided to invest in its reserve wines on this great year, and no Vintage was produced. The quality of 2012 is universally high, with the greatest releases so far including Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Bollinger La Grande Année and La Grande Année Rosé, as well as Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé.