DhondtGrellet,CramantBlancdeBlancsExtrBrutNV

Adrien makes this with 55 year old Chardonnay grapes, which are organic but not certified, from an south-east facing plot in Cramant, a Grand Cru village, which has very chalky soils. Fermentation is in barrique with natural yeast and it undergoes natural malo. The base is from 2015 and remaining 30% comes from reserve perpetuelle. Disgorged in October 2018 it has just 3g/l of sugar. Aromatically there are note of an early morning, harvest-time apple orchard and freshly-baked breakfast pastries. The palate has great precise and energy; chalkiness adds to its gastronomic credentials. A hint of sea shells combined with roundness and weight give me my mineral and old oak fix.