AR Lenoble Chouilly Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs NV
A boutique 100 year-old, 100% family-owned house now run by great grandchildren of the founder
Grape Makeup:
100% Chardonnay
Sweetness Level:
Extra Brut
Ageing on Lees:
3+ years
Price:
$
Cellar:
Up to 5 years
Category:
Celebration
Photos
What
A boutique 100 year-old, 100% family-owned house now run by great grandchildren of the founder
Where
Damery, Vallée de la Marne; 18 hectares of vines are divided between Chouilly Grand Cru in the Côte des Blancs (11 hectares of chardonnay), Damery (1.5 hectares, mainly meunier) and Bisseuil (5.5 hectares of pinot noir).
Why
Lenoble is the perfect combination of house and grower, producing much of their wine from their own carefully tended vineyards but with enough scale (350,000 bottles) that the wines are accessible. Their holdings in Chouilly Grand Cru, known for its breadth and ripeness, are substantial, allowing them to make several cuvées. The reserves for this NV blend are aged in magnums on their light lees, yielding mature wines that nonetheless retain their freshness.
What Else
Look for Les Aventures (NV) and Gentilhomme (vintage) from their best plots in Chouilly to see the pinnacles that can be achieved in this cru.
Tasting Notes
Roasted almond and golden toast open the nose, gradually giving way to ginger biscuit and lemon curd. Quite plump and heavy on the palate with no noticeable angles, its acidity is encased in a thick, oily blanket. A dusty texture on the back, with brightened acidity, help tighten things up on the finish though the overall shape remains quite rounded. Meyer lemon fruit sings on the finish, with a supporting toastiness.
Try It With
Creamy, fatty things made with dairy products, like gougères.
When To Drink
Hot entrées.
Perfect For
The friend who prefers to buy paperbacks from independent bookstores.
TL/DR
Biscuity, plump but balanced.
Supplier
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