Name: Dhondt-Grellet Champagne "Un Premier Temps" Extra Brut
Brand: Vins Rare
SKU: 7941
Price: 85.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Notes:

NV Extra-Brut Dans un Premier Temps (2018) is excellent, bursting with aromas of peach, citrus oil, white flowers, fresh bread and stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, with a demonstrative core of fruit and succulent acids, it's vinous and enveloping, drinking especially well out of the gates. William Kelley 92

Producer: Dhondt-Grellet has quickly become one of Champagne's benchmark grower estates under the direction of Adrien Dhondt, whose meticulous vineyard work and restrained cellar practices have earned widespread acclaim. Based in Cuis, a Premier Cru village in the Côte des Blancs, the domaine farms approximately 6 hectares of sustainably cultivated vineyards, focusing on low yields, healthy soils, and minimal intervention. Native yeast fermentations, long élevage, and careful use of oak allow each wine to express its vineyard origin with remarkable clarity. While the domaine is best known for its single-vineyard Chardonnay bottlings, Dans un Premier Temps serves as an introduction to Adrien Dhondt's philosophy, combining fruit from several villages into a Champagne that is both immediately enjoyable and unmistakably terroir-driven.
Vineyard: Dans un Premier Temps is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Pinot Meunier. The Chardonnay comes from the Côte de Sézanne, Pinot Noir from Avenay-Val-d'Or in the Vallée de la Marne, and Pinot Meunier from old vines in Cuis. The current release is built on 70% base vintage 2019 with 30% réserve perpétuelle dating back to 1986, adding remarkable depth and consistency to the finished wine. By blending these distinct terroirs, Dhondt-Grellet creates a Champagne that balances Chardonnay's precision with the texture of Pinot Noir and the generosity of Pinot Meunier.
Winemaking: Each parcel is vinified separately, with the Chardonnay split between French oak barrels and stainless steel, while the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are fermented primarily in stainless steel. Indigenous yeasts are used throughout, and the wines undergo full malolactic fermentation before blending with the estate's perpetual reserve. Following extended lees aging, the wine is bottled as an Extra Brut with only 3 g/L dosage, allowing its chalky minerality and vibrant fruit to remain the focus. The finished Champagne offers aromas of citrus, pear, peach, warm brioche, hazelnut, white flowers, and wet stone, carried by a creamy mousse and long, saline finish.
Technical Details: Champagne AOC; Non-Vintage Extra Brut; 70% Base Vintage 2019, 30% Réserve Perpétuelle (begun in 1986); 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier; fruit sourced from the Côte de Sézanne, Avenay-Val-d'Or, and Cuis; indigenous yeast fermentation; Chardonnay partially barrel fermented; full malolactic fermentation; 3 g/L dosage; disgorged May 2023 (current base 2019 release); approximately 12% alcohol.
Food Pairing: Dans un Premier Temps is exceptionally versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with oysters, lobster, grilled shrimp, roast chicken, pork tenderloin, mushroom dishes, sushi, and aged Comté. The Chardonnay provides freshness and chalky precision, Pinot Noir contributes structure and orchard fruit, while Pinot Meunier adds generosity and texture. Notes of green apple, pear, citrus peel, toasted brioche, hazelnut, and crushed stone make this an ideal aperitif while giving it enough depth to accompany an entire meal. It is a beautifully balanced introduction to one of Champagne's most exciting young grower-producers.

Notes:

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne "Un Premier Temps" Extra Brut

Reviews:

Product Details:

More Products Like This