Vilmart & Cie Grande Réserve Brut NV
Champagne, France
29.00€
Can’t quite believe this is their “entry level” champagne! 70% Pinot Noir in the blend (actually no Pinot Meunier used in any of their Cuvées), this had such finesse and delicate aromatics – fresh fern, honeysuckle and jasmine and notable white fruits (pear, nectarine and Mirabelle plum) on the palate then a delectable length with a hint of ginger-nut biscuit on the finish. This is the one we’re opting for initially, although I would hope to offer perhaps one or two of the more premium wines at a later stage once word spreads.
Vilmart & Cie from Rilly–la–Montagne have producing their distinctive Champagnes since 1890 from their own bio-dynamically farmed Premier Cru status vineyards and use larger oak “foudres” for all their non vintage Cuvées and smaller 225 litre “barriques” for their vintage and premium wines (a sort of “mini Krug”). Top champagne writer, Tom Stevenson rates Vilmart as “the finest Grower Champagne I know” WINE magazine. Guru critic, Robert Parker rates the full range in the 90’s (out of 100 possible points!)