Thienot, Vigne Gamins Blanc de Blancs

Nice Nose of bread and apple. really strong start. Apple, but good balance between freshness and earthy taste. Doe loose the bubble really fast.

Masterclass with Mr Thienot himself @Tryffelsvinet's wine festival. Macadamia nuts, oily lemon and in general very fruity (almost exotic) for a BdB. This was the year where Thienot decided to quit maloactic fermentation for this cuvée. Somewhat seared butted towards the tail. 8 g/L dosage.

Masterclass with Mr Thienot himself @Tryffelsvinet's wine festival. Well developed, somewhat oxidized bouquet with lemon curd notes. Straight to the point BdB from Avize with seared lemon, melted butter and a clear acidity. Maloactic fermentation & 2 g/L dosage. Will last 5-10 years but the oxidation will be a burden at some point.

100% old-vine single-vineyard Chardonnay from Avize. 100% malo, disgorged September 2020, dosage 2.4 g/l. Just the ticket to revive a flagging crowd and generate the energy to play a silly game. A real live-wire, chalky and with more quinine than fruit, offering excitement with every sip. Glad I have more of these.

Opened by Allred. My favorite of the 4 Champagnes at brunch. This is a single vineyard 100% Chardonnay sourced from 65 year old vines on a small 1.25 acre parcel in Avise (near Oger) in the Cote des Blancs. This was an extra brut with only 2.4g/l dosage. Some briny brie aromas. Solid bead. Notes of limes, pears, morel mushrooms and an underlying nuttiness. Excellent wine and just a step behind the 2002 vintage of this wine that I had …

Brunch with friends (EBCC) : Our first of three, poured during brunch. The deepest color of the wines tasted today, with a moderate mousse. Intriguing start to the bouquet with something akin to the bloom on a round of brie. That quickly blows off and leaves white peach, pear and almond with subtle hints of brioche in the background. Flavors of pear, lemon meringue, marshmallow and vanilla creme. Lovely fruit. Quite creamy in texture, though with a slightly more coarse …

From magnum

A few around the table liked this more than me but still interesting but not something I will look to buy

Excellent - will benefit from time. Had 2002 on NYE last year and was excited to try this vintage. Will try again in 4 years.

This took me completely by surprise. It was very refined. I think this is set up to last in the cellar for many years(if I can keep my hands off it)

We've tried before some mature bottles from the same producer that we liked but wasn't very exciting, just mature classic champagne; but this particular cuvée made from a single parcel in the village of Avize was exceptional, such a concentrated and elegant chardonnay that was so fresh and complex, probably due to the vintage and a quite more contracted vinification. Lots of chalk dominates with a lovely buttery aroma that became more and more evident with every glass; very ripe …