NV Dhondt - Grellet 'Dans un Premier Temps' Assemblage, CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE. 750ml BASE 19.
This the first cuvée of Adrien's range and the largest; he intends it to be an expression of all 6 hectares of his holdings spread across Sezanne, Cuis, and Avenay val d'Or. Vines are an average of 45 years old. The blend is 50% Chardonnay (Sezanne) - 1/2 fermented in barrel, the rest in tank & 30% Pinot Noir tank-fermented (Avenay Val d'Or in Vallée de la Marne), and 20% tank-fermented Pinot Meunier (from old vines in Cuis). The base vintage is 70% of the blend with the remainder a perpetual reserve started in 1986. Dosage 2g/l.
“Bursting with aromas of freshly baked bread, green apple, pear, warm biscuits and wet stones, Dhondt's NV Extra-Brut Dans un Premier Temps (2019) is medium to full-bodied, broad and textural, with a gourmand, enveloping core of fruit, lively acids and a long, sapid finish. A layered, vinous wine, animated by a pinpoint mousse, it's the finest rendition of this cuvée to date.” William Kelley | 92 Points | The Wine Advocate
