Vilmart & Cie
Grand Cellier 1er Cru Champagne Blend
Rilly-La-Montagne, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
Opened during the WB virtual taste with Thomas Champs of the Vilmart family.
Disgorged April 2022; 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot noir; 7g/dosage; no malo; 10months in oak
While I’ve had Vilmart before, I’ve not focused on the wine and its history before the way I did with this virtual taste. Normally 7g/l dosage starts to cause me to pause, but this is another example of how dosage plays so many different instruments aside from sweetness. Beautiful texture and precision. Slight reduction upon opening. Brioche, lemon cream, honeycrisp apple (not tart; ripe), sea salt, faint honey. The mineral/chalk profile is upfront and the mousse is really nice and soft/creamy. A wonderful balance in acid, fruit, texture.
Followed over two days, and I may have enjoyed day two a small bit more! Always an incredible value.
Opened during the WB virtual taste with Thomas Champs of the Vilmart family.
Disgorged April 2022; 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot noir; 7g/dosage; no malo; 10months in oak
While I’ve had Vilmart before, I’ve not focused on the wine and its history before the way I did with this virtual taste. Normally 7g/l dosage starts to cause me to pause, but this is another example of how dosage plays so many different instruments aside from sweetness. Beautiful texture and precision. Slight reduction upon opening. Brioche, lemon cream, honeycrisp apple (not tart; ripe), sea salt, faint honey. The mineral/chalk profile is upfront and the mousse is really nice and soft/creamy. A wonderful balance in acid, fruit, texture.
Followed over two days, and I may have enjoyed day two a small bit more! Always an incredible value.
I have really come to embrace this producer since my October 22 visit to the property. Beautiful champagne that is generally fermented in neutral small & large barrels/vats.
Starts w/ lemon, pineapple, lime, kiwi, white stone fruits, green apple, touch of tangerine & grapefruit w/ light sprinkle of sugar, cream, light white spice, crushed limestone w/ chalk, sea fossils, saline, light yeastiness, bread dough, sprinkle of dry herbs, spring flowers, jasmine, spring flowers & a touch of yellow lilies, nice crisp acidity with a structured backbone, nice tension, very well balanced and an elegant polished finish that lasts just under 90 seconds.
I have really come to embrace this producer since my October 22 visit to the property. Beautiful champagne that is generally fermented in neutral small & large barrels/vats.
Starts w/ lemon, pineapple, lime, kiwi, white stone fruits, green apple, touch of tangerine & grapefruit w/ light sprinkle of sugar, cream, light white spice, crushed limestone w/ chalk, sea fossils, saline, light yeastiness, bread dough, sprinkle of dry herbs, spring flowers, jasmine, spring flowers & a touch of yellow lilies, nice crisp acidity with a structured backbone, nice tension, very well balanced and an elegant polished finish that lasts just under 90 seconds.
Chrisp green apple, pear and a beautiful chalky overtone.
Chrisp green apple, pear and a beautiful chalky overtone.
Jan 16th, 2021
Wow. The seaside. Walnut. Salty, yeasty, citrusy, expansive, herbal smell. Lively bubbles, great streak of acid. Lacks fruit, all mineral. But really good.
Wow. The seaside. Walnut. Salty, yeasty, citrusy, expansive, herbal smell. Lively bubbles, great streak of acid. Lacks fruit, all mineral. But really good.
Aug 14th, 2020In the name of science, a few champagnes/sparkling wines were sampled today in an effort to help a friend for comparative research reasons. Hard way to spend a Monday...
For me, this was opposite end of the spectrum vs the Krug. More “reductive” in style with the bruised fruits & matchstick initially but this became a bit more fleshy after some time open and revealed more underripe citrus, lemon-lime candy and crushed rock. Thanks @Weston Eidson
In the name of science, a few champagnes/sparkling wines were sampled today in an effort to help a friend for comparative research reasons. Hard way to spend a Monday...
For me, this was opposite end of the spectrum vs the Krug. More “reductive” in style with the bruised fruits & matchstick initially but this became a bit more fleshy after some time open and revealed more underripe citrus, lemon-lime candy and crushed rock. Thanks @Weston Eidson
Simone’s first Xmas 🎄 (with Champagne for the adults) 🍾
Simone’s first Xmas 🎄 (with Champagne for the adults) 🍾
Dec 25th, 2022Disgorged June ‘17… these just keep getting better with more bottle age 🥰🥂
Disgorged June ‘17… these just keep getting better with more bottle age 🥰🥂
Sep 3rd, 2022Vilmart & Cie, always a favorite amongst the champagne faithful for a number of reasons, the leading one being the impeccable quality.
A clear pale gold robe. Teeny tiny persistent bubbles and terrific cream. The bouquet is highly evocative and the definition of fresh. Showing honey and white flowers up front and enswathed in citrus. Apricots and pineapples with peaches and the barest expression of banana. Quite posh and lovely.
Precision is the word of the day when dealing with these Vilmart champagnes. 70/30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Rilly-la-Montagne from 30 year old vines. Aged 10 months in large oak casks and disgorged in September of 2018 with no malolactic fermentation. Just a touch of sweetness with a dosage of 8 g/l but you won’t even notice that as it gets air and evolves in the glass. Very lithe and graceful with toned down acidity and wonderful tension.
The palate is focused and precise, even on the second day. The dried citrus on the tongue is intense and alive. Mangoes and tangerines. Minerality and crisp apples truly shine. Long finish with a bite of spice and smoke. These are terrific and stately champagnes and I just keep going back to them over and over. For a good reason.
Vilmart & Cie, always a favorite amongst the champagne faithful for a number of reasons, the leading one being the impeccable quality.
A clear pale gold robe. Teeny tiny persistent bubbles and terrific cream. The bouquet is highly evocative and the definition of fresh. Showing honey and white flowers up front and enswathed in citrus. Apricots and pineapples with peaches and the barest expression of banana. Quite posh and lovely.
Precision is the word of the day when dealing with these Vilmart champagnes. 70/30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Rilly-la-Montagne from 30 year old vines. Aged 10 months in large oak casks and disgorged in September of 2018 with no malolactic fermentation. Just a touch of sweetness with a dosage of 8 g/l but you won’t even notice that as it gets air and evolves in the glass. Very lithe and graceful with toned down acidity and wonderful tension.
The palate is focused and precise, even on the second day. The dried citrus on the tongue is intense and alive. Mangoes and tangerines. Minerality and crisp apples truly shine. Long finish with a bite of spice and smoke. These are terrific and stately champagnes and I just keep going back to them over and over. For a good reason.