DelamotteBlancdeBlancs2018

Founded in 1760 by vineyard owner François Delamotte, Champagne Delamotte is the fifth oldest producer in the region. The House has passed through many generations and even changed name at one point but was re-established as Delamotte in the late 1940s when it came into the hands of the de Nonancourt family. One of the most legendary figures in the Champagne industry, Bernard de Nonancourt managed Delamotte until 1988, when Champagne Laurent-Perrier purchased the business. After also buying the prestigious House of Champagne Salon in 1989, they officially joined the two companies and took over management of both. Next-door neighbours in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne Salon and Champagne Delamotte remain sister companies today. Whilst Salon originates from the same twenty plots in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Delamotte now owns six hectares in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, including in Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger. rrThe grapes for the Delamotte champagnes are only from the Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs, and that chalky character from the soils is quite evident in the champagne. Always fermented in stainless-steel tanks and the vintage is atleast six years on the lees prior to riddling and disgorgement the champagnes reflect that more steely and linear profile. This long lees time allows the wine time to mellow both structurally and aromatically, creating extremely unique flavours. rrWeather: The 2018 year started cold particularly February with some snowfall. By April the sunshine emerged leading to flowering at the end of May, some 10 days ahead of the 10 year average.Summer was hot and mostly dry with harvest starting on 20th August and lasted some 4 weeks.The lower night time temperatures during summer helped preserve the grapes natural acidity. In general all grapes performed well, with lots of forward fruit and most champagne will have ok acidity, not racy, not soft. Becoming a new benchmark for the Champagne region in terms of the heat, drought and sunshine levels!rrDelamotte Blanc de Blancs 2018 is only the fourth release to draw on all six grands crus of the Côte des Blancs. This new blend, a long-held ambition of Didier Depond, was introduced with the 2008 vintage, when Chouilly and Oiry finally joined the original ensemble of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Cramant and Oger.rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Avize, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly & OiryrGrape Varieties: 100% ChardonnayrLees Ageing: 4 yearsrDosage: 5 g/lrDisgorged: October 2023rrTasting Note: A gourmand, complex bouquet of pastry, almonds, ripe orchard fruits, spices and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and chiseled, it’s enveloping and round with a fleshy core of fruit, though not as fleshy as the 2012, concluding with a tense and long finish. Tasted by Yohan Castaing