x
  • Country ranking ?

    160
  • Producer ranking ?

    105
  • Decanting time

    25min
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Grilled scallops & Sushi

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The Story

The first three bottlings released under the special Thiénot x Penfolds label are made with wines produced from the outstanding 2012 vintage. The range includes a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as two single-vineyard wines from grand cru villages: a Blanc de Blancs from Avize, and a Blanc de Noirs from Aÿ

Nicolas Uriel, Thiénot’s chef de cave, collaborated closely with Gago to create Champagnes expressing, in the words of Gago, ‘their differences while sharing the collective interpretation by Thiénot and Penfolds.’

The trio has slightly lower levels of dosage than those usually chosen by Maison Thiénot and, to strengthen the cross-hemisphere tie, they use a liqueur d’expédition elaborated in barriques initially used for Penfolds’ flagship Yattarna Chardonnay.

Malolactic fermentation is deliberately avoided to retain freshness, and Uriel explains that they ‘chose to lower the amount of dosage and not use barrel-ageing so as to enhance the terroir transparency of these Champagnes, while benefitting from Peter Gago’s blending expertise for fine-tuning the style we wanted.’

These Champagnes will be distributed by Penfolds around the world except for France, where it will be in the hands of the Thiénot group.

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Vintage 2012

Lower-than-average yields in Australia, as across much of Europe. This was blamed on high winds, drought and low fruitfulness resulting from the poor 2011 vintage. Quality, however, was much better than in the exceptionally damp 2011, with South Australia avoiding some of the weather extremes experienced by other states. Strong varietal typicality is a commonly cited feature of the 2012 crop.

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

The dosage stored in Penfold's Australian barrels. In all three wines where Peter Gago had a hand and his barrels in the production, you have an added and impressive power and butterscotch oakiness. The wines are simply larger and more expressive than in the steel tank-fermented prestige champagnes from Thiénot. The very best in the trio with a Comtes de Champagne-like opulence and fullness. Even more roasted and coffee-scented than the model and at least as smooth texture. Not quite the same depth and elegance, but it is a fantastic champagne in any case.

  • 93p

Finally, the Blanc de Blancs 2012 is from a Grand Cru vineyard of just half
a hectare in the village of Avize. There is no malolactic fermentation,
ensuring bright acidity. A stunning champagne, with baked apple notes, nuts,
lemon curd, white peach and florals. It is complex, clean and fresh, an
appealing texture and great length. Gorgeous texture and already exhibiting
plenty of complexity. Wonderful. 97.

  • 97p

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, minerals, nuanced, fruit driven, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, brioche, minerals, leaner finish, long. 91

  • 91p

A wine that has real nerve and power, it is fragrant and really enthralling with chalk and dried flowers. It has beautifully toasty, autolysis notes with fresh, sliced strawberries, yellow citrus and creamy nuances, too. A complex and alluring style. The palate fuses intensity with fine detail, building to a precise finish that bodes well for the potential to develop handsomely in bottle. Produced from a single plot of 0.4ha in Avize. 

  • 94p

Bright, green yellow colour. Fresh elegant nose of white fruits, butter, ashes and lovely toastiness. Dry, crisp and mouthfilling elegant palate with silky mousse, dense structure and elegant texture. Very refined style. Lingering smooth finish with fresh mint and gentle lemon bite. JL 94p

  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

Grapes

100% Chardonnay

Drinking temperature

7-9C

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