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The house of Besserat de Bellefon was founded in 1843 near Ay in Champagne, and is now based in Epernay. The hallmark of the house is the lower than normal pressure that the wine is kept at under cork. This lower than normal pressure does not reduce the effervescence, but softens it, allowing the wine to partner better with food. Aspect: Deep, intense yellow Bouquet: Citrus, confits, honey, sweet spice, panettone, praline Palate: Generous freshness, opulence, purity, natural, exceptional Assemblage : Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier.

BLIARD-MORISET Millesime Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand cru, Champagne

A meticulous and confidential selection of magnificent terroirs. A common denominator of these soils: Campanian chalk, declined according to different exposures and depths. The Chardonnays of Côte des Blancs provide the main support for this cuvée and ensure its great elegance. On this solid basis, the northern terroirs of the Montagne de Reims and the hills of Nogent l’Abbesse contribute liveliness, structure and complexity. It is the harmonious association of these great terroirs which allows this cuvée to express an astounding freshness and a maturity worthy of an Apanage. Reserve wines to accentuate the aromas. As throughout the Pommery range, the collection of Pommery reserve wines supports the assemblage in a good proportion and enhances the sensation of great maturity of this cuvée. A long ageing in our historical cellars: As every Apanage, a prolonged ageing in the cellars provides this cuvée with the elegance and complexity which characterize it. This is an indispensable stage and one has to be patient to have all the subtleties of this assemblage revealed. The aperitif will be a privileged moment to appreciate this wine but caviar or a carpaccio of scallops with green lemon will reveal other facets of this cuvee. Remarkable elegance, the first nose reveals a spring freshness. Subtle floral notes of jasmine and acacia are harmoniously paired with delicate grades of linden. After this first impression of an incredible freshness, a large complexity reveals itself during which notes of citrus fruits and a creamy impression of frangipane express themselves alternately. The attack is open, without detour, as a sign of a very great assemblage. The elegance and freshness revealed on the nose can be found on the palate. The heart of the tasting is of an exemplary righteousness. The aromas of citrus fruits and white fruits (fresh apple) take over. The balance of the final is perfectly revealing the subtle flavor of yellow grapefruit.

Charles Heidsieck was one of the very first Champagne Houses to demonstrate its passion for Chardonnay by producing a Blanc de Blancs in its 1949 vintage. There is also evidence that the Maison had produced some mono-crus from the Côte des Blancs as early as1906... Through this cuvée, relaunched in 2018, two of the House’s areas of expertise come together: the production of great white wines and the art of blending a large selection of wines from different years and terroirs. The considerable challenge is to make opposites coexist: the tautness and the freshness of young chardonnays on the one hand, and the silky “Charles” character on the other. The Blanc de Blancs is the result of a very selective blend of Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims, Cote de Sezanne and Montgueux. The cuvée base 2016 is composed of 10 crus of Chardonnay, the most sought-after grapes in the region. For this cuvée, only the juice from the first press are used and, the wines benefit from a slow and long maturation of 3 to 4 years, far beyond the norms of the region. From the bottle to glass, this champagne is a pale, crystalline gold colour with glints of the Chardonnay varietal. On the nose the aromas of mature Chardonnay can be recognised initially: white peach, candied citrus with hints of lime, fresh hazelnut and honeysuckle, giving way to subtle hints of tangerine and lemon citrus. On the palate freshness an tautness mark this as almost unconventionally suave for a blanc de blanc, so often characterised as being sharp rather than creamy. The harmonious finish offers a surprising minerality and a slight salinity.

Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut NV is produced using 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards are on the Southern side of Vertus. In the cellar, Larmandier uses mostly large format casks and less and less steel tanks. These are vineyards on roughly the same 'Latitude' and the name also hints at the breadth of texture that the wines from these sites (having more clay in the soil) tend to offer up. In the cellar Larmandier uses mostly large format casks (almost all the wood now comes from Stockinger in Austria) and less and less steel tanks. The alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place without inoculation, and there is no fining or filtration. Bottle maturation takes place in the underground cellars over a period of more than two years, and each bottle is disgorged manually, six months before being released, and dosed at low, Extra Brut levels. Pure and mineral, the most recent bottling offers cut-diamond precision, citrusy, chalky energy and a succulent, textured core. In short, it is a classic 'Larmandier' wine that is all class. Dosage is 3-4 grams per litre

Gimonnet Gonet’s L’Origine is a Blanc de Blancs Champagne composed of fruit from five Grand Cru villages—Oiry, Chouilly, Oger, Cramant, Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger. As Gimonnet Gonet eschews the use of oak, the wine is fermented in stainless steel before it’s blended with reserve wines (30-35%), then aged in bottle for 22-36 months. Its golden colour, and mild mousse, leads to an expressive nose of bright fruit and a subtle nuttiness. The palate is grippy and fresh, yet creamy and elegant, with stone fruit, lemon zest, and a sense of minerality. 6g/l dosage.

Cuvée 4·5 is a unique blend from Maison Mumm that brings together Chardonnay (40%) & Pinot Noir (60%), all coming from Grand Cru vineyards. Mineral & lively, Verzenay’s Pinot Noir brings to the wine generous & fruity aromas, while Pinot Noir from South-facing vineyards Aÿ & Bouzy add strength & vinosity to the blend. Chardonnay from Cramant offers delicate & tangy citrus notes, well-balanced by the incisive & sharp Chardonnay from Avize. Pressed & vinified separately, those five Grand Cru are then blended while adding reserve wines (20%). The expedition liqueur, produced exclusively from the same Grand Cru, is the final touch of this Cuvée. Aged in cellars for 4 years and made from five Grand Cru, the name of the wine stems from those characteristics: Cuvée 4·5.