Champagne Gallimard Père et Fils Cuvée Prestige Millésime Extra Brut 2016
Gallimard's Exceptional 97-point Vintage Champagne, with a full 6 years on the lees, all for under $40? Of course, we love Arnaud Gallimard’s salt-and-pepper hair, but really it’s his winemaking that really blows us away!
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Why We Love It...
Didier and Arnaud make the perfect father-son team. Didier is the roots, steeped in tradition and paying homage to the generations of family who farmed this land before. Arnaud is the branches of the future, experimenting, re-evaluating, and driving the wines to newfound heights – even chosen by Wine Enthusiast as one of the "Champagne Producers Redefining France’s Bubbly,” Combined, they are the perfect complement to one another – the sage and the innovator – ever evolving without getting too far off track. We’ve certainly noticed an uptick in their overall quality over the past few years, and this top cuvee is something to behold.
A blend of 65% pinot noir and 35% chardonnay from the family holdings in Les Riceys, these vines are grown in the region’s mix of clay and chalk soils amongst the rolling woodland-topped hills surrounding their village… an area well-suited to pinot noir. The wine is matured in a combination of stainless steel (pinot noir) and stainless oak (chardonnay). After spending 6 years on the lees, the wine is disgorged in the “à la volée” style, wherein the yeast is forcefully expelled without first freezing the neck of the bottle. Quite the sight! The dosage here is 4 grams per liter, and the balance and harmony provided are pristine. It’s utterly delicious, compelling stuff that is laser-focused and bubbling with apricot marmalade, pie crust, white flowers, poached pear, honey, and lemon curd. Rich and weighty on the palate, this has a slight caramel finish to complement the baked apple, citrus, and toasty layers. The finish simply goes on and on – seemingly forever.
We’ve been loving the fantastic Gallimard wines for some years now, and they unquestionably get better every time. This 2016 vintage Champagne is singing, and my, is it pretty! 97 points and sure to vanish as quickly as she came!
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Champagne Gallimard Pére et Fils