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Wine Description
The Story
Coming from the oldest vines plants of our terroir, this wine is made with the "Coeur de Cuvee" (i.e from 1400 liters instead of 2050 liters for a classic cuvée). Its slow and meticulous development combined with a know how of 5 generations guarantee a precious and exceptional wine.
Blend: 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir
VIneyards: Premier Cru sites
Age of vines: 60 years old
Vinification: Developed exclusively with the heart of the cuvée (1400 l instead of 2050 l)
Ageing: 10 months in barriques (228 litres). 72 months on lees. No malolactic fermentation
Dosage: 7 g/l
Tasting notes: Its straw-yellow colour is accompanied with a fine persistent mousse crowning the disc with a fine and harmonious cord. On the nose, the first aromas of hazelnut and brioche awake the senses. After a few moments, with much of delicacy, subtle notes of vanilla and dried fruit are married with more subtle lemony flavors. The nose is both elegant and powerful, which indicates a wine of great complexity and a beautiful harmony. Once in your mouth, aromas of butter, “crème brûlée” and spices (white pepper) blossom awaken taste buds. It is a gourmand and generous wine with an exceptional freshness. After several minutes of tasting, the complexity and the scarcity of this wine give us an explosion of flavors in the mouth, a real aromatic symphony. Such an incredible personality for this Champagne! This vivacious wine lets your mind wander from bubbles to aromas, that may open our heart.
Food match: This wine pairs well with meat and fish dishes such as crayfish and mushrooms, fried Saint Jacques or even a seared foie gras will bring depth and a deep aromatic evolution to the wine. Such an incredible personnality for this Champagne! This vivacious wine lets your mind wander from bubbles to aromas, a wine that may open "our heart."
Vintage 2004
A great example of how large yields do not necessarily mean poor quality in Champagne. As a reaction to the previous year's low yields, the vines produced one of the largest crops on record. The growing season proceeded without major difficulties but the bumper crop called for bud thinning. August brought about cooler weather and some rains, increasing the risk of rot. The massive crop, averaging 13,990 kg/ha, was picked from September 18th onwards. The quality was a pleasant surprise; vibrant wines with appropriate intensity, refined charm and refreshing lightness. This vintage impresses me more and more, and I feel tempted to give it the full five stars. It comes with a rare balance of freshness, lightness, yet fine aromatic intensity. Post-release, this vintage has proven to be slow to age, and elegant wines are likely to keep on ageing gracefully. Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal both excelled.