2020 has been a rather gloom year, so let’s crack on this last quarter with a sparkle of good news and let’s celebrate the small things.
Until the end of November, we will be running a buy any mixed 6 bottles of Champagne/Sparkling from a curated selection and get the 7th for free!
Champagne Heidsieck & Co. Monopole
Blue Top NV
Plenty of small, steady bubbles. A touch of nettles and crisp asian pear and melon, just a background of yeastiness. Quite explosive, juicy fruit on the palate; star-fruit and peach, with a moderate mousse and a fresh, citrussy finish.
87/100 Tom Cannavan
Gold Top Vintage 2010
It’s a richer style partially due to the higher proportion of Pinot Noir used in the blend as well as the extended 10years on lees. This developed rich buttered brioche notes underpinning baked apples, roasted hazelnuts, freshen with citrus acidity, all supported by a fine creamy mousse.
Champagne Pierre Gimonnet & Fils
Blanc de Blanc ‘Cuis’ 1er Cru NV
By ‘grower’ standards, a big estate of 28 ha (69 acres), about half of which are in the premier cru village of Cuis at the northern end of the Côte des Blancs and 11 ha shared across the two grands crus Cramant and Chouilly. In 2004, 1 ha in Oger was purchased, followed in 2008 with 2 ha in Vertus and 1 ha of Pinot Noir in Aÿ. Mass selection is the norm here and 70% of the parcels owned in grands crus are over 40 years old. Over 250,000 bottles made per annum, majority 100% Chardonnay, making Gimonnet the biggest producer of Blanc de Blancs in Champagne. Only stainless steel is used, no oak, aiming for restraint and finesse.
Distinctively, all reserve wines are kept in 75 cl bottles on light lees and a tiny dose of sweetness for pétillant freshness. In 2011, an Oger Grand Cru wine was the first single grand cru they made, and it remains so: he has a lot of grand cru land but does not want to make over-powerful wines. This is 100% Chardonnay, stainless steel. Total ageing in bottle up to 30 months. Malo done. Dosage 6 g/l. Pale greenish straw. Massive energy and bite on the nose. Tight texture with marked acidity. Lots to get your teeth into. Quite refined and smooth-textured. Well-judged pressure. Long and super-refreshing aperitif wine.
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson
Blanc de Blanc ‘Cuvee Fleuron’ 1er Cru 2008
100% Chardonnay. Gimonnet’s main vintage champagne, from good years. Stainless steel. 30% Chouilly grand cru, 42.5% Cramant grand cru, 9% Oger grand cru, 18.5% Cuis premier cru is a typical blend. Malo done. Dosage 4.5 g/l. A little looser than the 2012. Nicely balanced and very appetising and direct.
17/20 Jancis Robinson
Champagne Pol Roger
Brut Reserve NV
A grand classic from iconic Champagne House Pol Roger, which almost doesn’t need any introduction! Consistent in its delivery every year, this Brut Reserve NV is one of the most well-known and adored Champagne around the globe. The Brut Reserve is a blend, in equal parts, of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from 30 different crus. Pinot Noir brings structure, body and power, whilst Pinot Meunier ensures freshness, roundness and fruitiness. Finally, Chardonnay adds aromatic complexity, finesse, elegance and lightness. To insure the consistency over the years, a portion of 25% of reserve wines is used. The wine spends 4 years aging in the Champenois cellars defining complexity, balance and a truly distinctive style.
Vintage 2012
Vintage Pol; always an absolute treat!
Refined and subtle, 2012 is a stellar example of Vintage Pol Roger, with exceptionally fine and very persistent beads. Pronounced aromas of brioche, dried fruits, flowers marry into subtle gingerbread, citrus, cashew and faint toasted spiced honey notes. The palate is neat, firm, complex and round. The crispness of the citrus fragrances lingers throughout the palate and enhances the aromatic range of spices, baked goods and fresh white fruits (peach) already present on the nose. Very fine and long with a tightly knit, chalked tinged finish.
Champagne Brimoncourt
Brut Regence Non Vintage
We talked earlier this year about the Champagne House Brimoncourt and in particular, the Brut Regence NV. This is a classic blend of Chardonnay (80%) from the Cotes des Blancs and Pinot Noir from the Vallee de la Marne (20%). With its low dosage of 6gr/L, fine beads, and delicate notes, Jancis Robinson calls it “easy to like”, and we cannot agree more!
“Very fine and elegant, with deep layers of flavour and texture, this savoury and near-dry Champagne has a creamy, waxy bouquet whose scents of floral notes, citrus oil and brioche reveal undertones of mushrooms and honey. It’s long and shapely, with a round, nutty core of flavour that extends long and lively towards a focused and persistent finish of freshness, shape and harmony.”
96 POINTS, Jeremy Oliver MW
Blanc de Blanc NV
A Blanc de Blancs composed of Chardonnay from 8 different crus: Avize,
Vertus, Oger, Grauves, Le Mesnil sur Oger, Villers Marmery, Cuis and Chouilly. With a dosage of 8gr and 48months ageing, the result is a pure, fleshy, smooth and pristine BdB. On the palate, you will find an array of citrus fruits especially lemon and grapefruit, as well as classic toasted brioche. The minerality of the wine strikes like thunder and keeps it vibrant and, O so, pleasurable.
Pale colour. Fresh grapefruit, pear, grilled nut, light lanolin,
96 points – Andrew Caillard (Master of Wine)
flinty aromas. Mouthfilling wine with generous grapefruit,
lemon glacé, yeasty flavours, persistent creamy bead and
underlying grilled, toasty, briny notes. Finishes chalky dry
but long and minerally. Beautiful Champagne.
Rose NV
This clever blend of 35% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier will make you fall in love with Champagne Rose again. A Non-Vintage Rose which aims for power yet in an elegant and fine execution. The dosage is set at 8gr and the ageing varies from 36 to 48 months.
Pronounced red fruits on the nose (strawberries, raspberries), with hints of candied orange peel, citrus, and bergamot, carrying through to the palate. The layers of flavours encompass roses, cinnamon, and honey spiked by a tangy cherry and slightly crushed rocks.
This is a versatile Champagne Rose to have as an appetizer, with some French cheeses!
Extra Brut NV
This Champagne is composed of only Grand Cru classified grown grapes. 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from the 6 villages of Aÿ, Ambonnay,
Bouzy, Oger, Le Mesnil sur Oger and Cramant. At a very low dosage of 2gr, and only using outstanding quality fruits accross vintages, the wine aims to represent the pristine winegrowing conditions of Grand Crus vineyards.
Pale colour. Candied pear, lemon aromas with grapefruit,
97 points – Andrew Caillard’s (Master of wine)
flinty tonic water nuances. Well concentrated wine with
flinty flavours, light chalky textures, oyster shell nuances,
and long fresh mineral length, bitter lemon, flinty bone dry
finish. Wonderful wine. Generous and mouth-filling with
creamy, fruit sweet flavours and bone dry structure.
Very impressive wine.
Champagne Henri Giraud
Esprit Nature Brut NV
Located in Ay, the estate excels in its Pinot Noir work; which is usually defined by a bigger and more vinous style (oak fermentation used frequently). The wine is composed of a classic blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, and produced in a rather modern way, with the use of concrete eggs.
Despite what its name could suggest, the ‘Esprit Nature’ is a Non- Vintage Brut, meaning a dosage usually between 6 and 12gr of sugar. The wine is yet dry, mineral, sharp on the attack, deploys an array of generous fresh fruits and complex notes with generous oak influences, followed by an incredibly rich, silky finish.
Croser
Non Vintage
A true aperitif style Aussie sparkling wine! The classic blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay brings red fruits, nectarine, cashew and biscuits aromas and flavours. Delivered with a fine mousse and refreshing as a summer rain. It is an amazing value for money The wine Front scored 88/100.
Non Vintage Rose
A delicious Rosé sourced from premium fruits located on in Piccadilly Valley. Unleash gorgeous aromas and flavours of pomegranate, wild strawberry and cherry, as long as the classic biscuity notes. Creamy, refined and again, amazing value for money, it is the perfect Spring sipping Sparkling Rose.
Vintage 2013
Composed of the same blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Croser vintage is an absolute regal! It has complexity and elegance. The palate is creamy and rich in flavours of honey, cashew, citrus, wild strawberry, buttered green apples and nectarine yoghurt.
Clover Hill
Tasmanian Cuvee Non-Vintage
53% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir and the remaining 5% Pinot Meunier. This Tasmanian Rockstar has shaken the world of Sparkling with its consistency and humility.
Along with a bright green hue, this wine has a delicate and soft mousse. On the nose, attractive notes of bright citrus, fresh apples, brioche and cream. On the palate, the wine offers crisp apple pie and lime characters. It has a great drive and length with a balanced dosage of 7.5gr. (Clover Hill)
Tasmanian Cuvee Non-Vintage Rose
With fruits from Clover Hill’s various Tasman vineyards, this Rose has a delicate yet enticing profile. Ripped cherries and cooked strawberry shortcake, rose petals and fresh raspberries on the nose and palate. It is a vibrant wine meant to be drunk young with a strawberry dessert…
Tasmanian Cuvee Vintage 2013
With such an exhaustive list of rewards and recognition, Clover Hill Vintage is a must-try! Fo the vintage, winemaker Robert Heywood uses 66% of Chardonnay. This leads to a wine with more orchard fruits (apple, quince), citrus (confit lemon) and baked goods (Tarte tatin, brioche) characteristics. Due to it’s prolonged ageing (5years of lees) the wine has a large spectrum of tertiary characteristics, including nuts, doughy and toasted components.
If you wish to order email us at val@decanters.com.au or pop by the store.
Offer valids until November 29th – Cheapest bottle will be the free one
Wine regards,
Val
