Notes:
The 2018 Extra Brut Blonc de Blancs Cuvée Oenophile Non-Dosé is a blend from the Grand Crus of Cromant, Chouilly and Oger and then Cuis, which is a ler Cru. The 2018 offers lovely complexity in the vintoge's relatively soft, understated style but displays good depth and creaminess that odd bolonce. Citrus confit, spice, hozelnut and dried flowers all meld together effortlessly. The non-dosé style is not especially evident, as the wine's balance is impeccoble. Disgorged: November, 2022 Vinous/Galloni 92
- Producer: Pierre Gimonnet & Fils is one of the Côte des Blancs' benchmark grower-producers, with a family history in Cuis dating back to the 18th century and estate bottling since 1935. Today, brothers Didier and Olivier Gimonnet oversee approximately 30 hectares, almost entirely planted to Chardonnay across the Premier Cru villages of Cuis and Vertus, along with Grand Cru holdings in Cramant, Chouilly, and Oger. The domaine has earned an international reputation for producing some of Champagne's purest expressions of Chardonnay through sustainable viticulture, low yields, stainless steel vinification, and meticulous blending. Rather than relying on heavy oak or extended oxidative aging, Gimonnet emphasizes freshness, chalk-driven minerality, and remarkable precision. Their wines are celebrated for combining elegance with longevity, making the estate one of the reference points for Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
- Vineyard: Œnophile is produced exclusively from 100% Chardonnay, blending fruit from nine separate vineyard parcels across the Côte des Blancs. Approximately 70% of the fruit comes from Grand Cru vineyards—including 45% Cramant, 30% Chouilly, and 3% Oger—while the balance is sourced from the Premier Cru village of Cuis. Unlike the house's flagship Fleuron, Œnophile is bottled without dosage, allowing the vineyard character to take center stage. The chalk-rich soils of these villages impart remarkable tension, salinity, and longevity, while the warm 2018 growing season provided generous fruit that balances beautifully with the wine's razor-sharp mineral profile.
- Winemaking: The 2018 Œnophile is vinified entirely in stainless steel using the same blend as the house's Fleuron, but is bottled as a Brut Nature (Non Dosé) to showcase Chardonnay in its purest form. Full malolactic fermentation softens the wine's naturally high acidity while preserving its crystalline freshness. Following secondary fermentation, the wine spent several years aging on its lees before being disgorged without dosage, producing a Champagne of exceptional precision and finesse. Despite the absence of residual sugar, the wine never feels austere, instead balancing citrus, orchard fruit, toasted almond, and chalky minerality with a creamy mousse and remarkably long finish.
- Technical Details: Champagne Premier Cru AOC; Vintage 2018; 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs); approximately 70% Grand Cru fruit (45% Cramant, 30% Chouilly, 3% Oger) and 30% Premier Cru Cuis; Côte des Blancs; stainless steel vinification; full malolactic fermentation; Brut Nature (0 g/L dosage); disgorged October/November 2023 depending on release; approximately 12% alcohol.
- Food Pairing: Fresh oysters, caviar, scallops, sashimi, grilled langoustines, Dover sole, fresh goat cheese, and aged Comté all pair beautifully with Œnophile. Aromas of lemon blossom, green apple, white flowers, toasted almond, brioche, and crushed chalk lead into a palate that is taut, saline, and remarkably focused. The absence of dosage highlights the wine's extraordinary mineral precision without sacrificing texture, making it an outstanding aperitif while giving it the structure to accompany refined seafood and poultry dishes. Its purity and balance also allow it to evolve gracefully for another decade or more.
Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne "Oenophile" Blanc de Blancs Non Dosé 2018
Sale price$74.00
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