Cramant 2019, Champagne Grand Cru Bérêche & Fils | Champagne

Bérêche & Fils ' Champagne Extra-Brut Grand Cru Cramant cuvée is a rare, refined expression of the prestigious Côte des Blancs terroir. Made from Chardonnay from two emblematic parcels, Le Bateau and Chemin de Chalons, situated between 170 and 190 meters above sea level, this cuvée embodies the elegance and minerality of the Grand Cru village of Cramant

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : The vines, over 45 years old, are rooted in clay-limestone soils on a base of Campanian chalk, giving the wine a distinctive chalky signature. Alcoholic fermentation takes place slowly in oak barrels, followed by ageing on the lees in the same container. The wine foams under cork, adding an extra touch of finesse. After 54 months' ageing on laths, the wine is disgorged at a minimum dosage of 3 g/L, in keeping with the Extra-Brut style

The nose is pure and intense, with notes of white flowers (hawthorn, acacia), candied lemon zest, fresh pear and white peach, with a chalky touch that evokes slightly damp rock. Then come the more complex nuances of barrel ageing: hints of toasted hazelnut, brioche bread, fresh almond, but always with the elegant restraint characteristic of the Bérêche style.

On the palate, the attack is straightforward, saline and taut, with remarkable energy. The texture is both creamy and nervous, marked by good density without heaviness. Ripe Williams pear, lemon bergamot and quince fruit are perfectly balanced with an omnipresent mineral framework. A fine bitterness, typical of chalk, structures the mid-palate and prolongs persistence. The very moderate dosage (3 g/L) allows a limpid reading of the terroir and leaves plenty of room for the purity of the Chardonnay.