Name: Dhondt-Grellet Champagne "Les Terres Fines" 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (R19)
Brand: Vins Rare
SKU: 7874
Price: 99.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Notes:

Wafting from the glass with aromas of honeyed orchard fruits, freshly baked bread and frangipane, Dhondt's NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Les Terres Fines (2019) is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a satiny attack and a deep, seamless mid-palate that's girdled by racy acids. Penetrating and precise, it's already beautifully integrated only shortly after disgorgement. William Kelley 95

Disgorged - July 2022

"Dhondt considers 2019 to be the most exciting vintage of his career to date, and that, too, surely contributes to what are the most exciting releases to date for his entry-level bottlings, wines that are far from ordinary" William Kelley

Producer: Dhondt-Grellet has rapidly become one of Champagne's most respected young grower estates under the direction of Adrien Dhondt, whose meticulous vineyard work and thoughtful cellar practices have elevated the family's domaine into the top tier of artisanal Champagne. Based in Cuis, a Premier Cru village in the Côte des Blancs, the estate farms approximately 6 hectares, with a strong emphasis on old-vine Chardonnay. Farming is sustainable and increasingly organic in practice, with low yields, careful canopy management, and minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. Fermentations rely primarily on indigenous yeasts, oak is used judiciously, and every decision is made with the goal of preserving transparency and terroir expression. Adrien's philosophy has earned widespread praise from critics, who regard Dhondt-Grellet as one of Champagne's rising benchmark producers.
Vineyard: Les Terres Fines is produced from 100% Chardonnay grown in nine separate parcels located entirely within the Premier Cru village of Cuis in the Côte des Blancs. The vineyards average approximately 45 years of age and are rooted in the region's classic chalk-rich soils, which impart remarkable tension, minerality, and longevity. The cuvée is built from 70% base vintage 2019 and 30% réserve perpétuelle dating back to 1986, adding extraordinary depth and complexity while preserving the freshness and precision of the young vintage. This perpetual reserve has become one of the defining elements of the wine, layering decades of history into each release while maintaining a distinctly Cuis expression of Chardonnay.
Winemaking: The base wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and carefully selected French oak barrels before blending with the estate's perpetual reserve. The wine is bottled with an Extra Brut dosage of approximately 1.5 g/L, allowing the fruit and chalk-driven minerality to remain the focal point. Extended lees aging contributes exceptional texture, complexity, and a remarkably fine mousse without sacrificing freshness. Adrien Dhondt has steadily refined his barrel program to emphasize precision over richness, resulting in a Champagne that seamlessly balances breadth, concentration, and remarkable energy. The finished wine is simultaneously vinous and crystalline, showcasing the distinctive personality of old-vine Chardonnay from Cuis.
Technical Details: Champagne Premier Cru AOC; 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs); 70% Base Vintage 2019, 30% Réserve Perpétuelle (begun in 1986); Premier Cru vineyards in Cuis, Côte des Blancs; approximately 45-year-old vines; chalk-rich soils; indigenous yeast fermentation; stainless steel and French oak vinification; Extra Brut; 1.5 g/L dosage; disgorged March 2022; approximately 12% alcohol.
Food Pairing: Oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, Dover sole, sushi, roast chicken, fresh goat cheese, and aged Comté are exceptional partners for Les Terres Fines. Aromas of honeyed orchard fruit, Meyer lemon, white flowers, brioche, almond, and crushed chalk lead into a palate that is broad yet laser-focused. The combination of old-vine fruit, the perpetual reserve, and restrained dosage creates a Champagne of remarkable depth and finesse, equally compelling as an aperitif or alongside refined seafood and poultry dishes, while possessing the structure to evolve beautifully over the next decade.

Notes:

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne "Les Terres Fines" 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (R19)

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