Domaine la Croix Montjoie, Crémant de Bourgogne, Extra Brut
Critics reviews
Made using the 2019 vintage as the base. This is a consistent follow on from the previous year, with 6g dosage and the usual blend of 89% chardonnay and 20% pinot. Light apple but otherwise some fleshier fruit behind, very well balanced, not too acid. Very good length for this level.
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Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy (July 2022)
Clean and fresh. A little tart. Hint of sweet and sour but much much better than most wines from this appellation.
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Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (October 2016)
A Crémant de Bourgogne with more of a Champagne feel to it. Chardonnay dominates the blend while Pinot Noir, Gamay and Aligoté add layers of complexity. Attractive pale-yellow hue, with a fine and restrained mousse, this is a very classy example of sparkling Burgundy.
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Andrew Howard MW, Decanter.com
About this WINE
Domaine la Croix Montjoie
Domaine La Croix Montjoie was established in 2009, and was named after the crossroads of Vezelay, which lies between Chablis and Beaune.
The estate has ten acres of vineyards overlooking the basilica and the foothills of the Morvan. Chardonnay is grown here, with an ideal location of a south/south-east facing hillside and stony clay and limestone rich soil. The grapes are cultivated to make the most of the naturally occurring seasons, including the harsh winters and cool summer nights.
Pinot Black Irancy is also grown, slightly further north of Vezelay. The vineyards and building management are family run, with the help of close friends, and all are involved in the ongoing development of the business.
Crémant de Bourgogne
Crémant de Bourgogne is the appellation used to describe the sparkling wines produced in Burgundy, which can be either white or rosé but not red, as these are known as Bourgogne Mousseux. It is made using the same ‘Méthode Traditionelle’ that is used to create the more famous Champagne, however due to the lack of the Champagne brand, Crémant de Bourgogne wines are much cheaper than their A-list cousins, resulting in wines that are comparable in quality to Champagne but far easier on the bank balance. Crémant de Bourgogne wines fall under 4 categories inside the AOC itself, which are as follows:
Le crémant de Bourgogne blanc – this consists of at least 30% Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.
Le crémant de Bourgogne blanc de blancs – this is made from just Chardonnay and is generally described as a very light and lively wine.
Le crémant de Bourgogne blanc de noirs – this is made predominantly from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or both together, and tends to be a little richer and with a bit more body.
Le crémant de Bourgogne rosé – the rosé wine is made almost entirely from Pinot Noir, occasionally with auxiliary Gamay.
The acidic grape variety Aligoté is often used to increase the effervescence of the wine to give it a little more sparkle. Crémant de Bourgogne production takes place chiefly in the regions of Auxerre and the Côte Chalonnaise.
Crémant blend
Crémants are made all over France. These traditional method sparkling wines imitate Champagnes in both production and the grapes used in the blend.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the most common grapes found in these sparkling wines; their proportion depends on the climate and local regulations. In Crémant de Bourgogne, made in the heartland of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these are used in equal measure.
Regions further away from Champagne also blend in their own local grapes. For example, in the Crémants from Jura, Savagnin is used to add acidity and savoury flavours to the wine, whilst Trousseau brings delicate red fruit character. Meanwhile, in the south of France, in Crémant de Limoux, Chenin Blanc adds acidity and longevity to the wines, whilst Mauzac brings a bright green apple note.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
This characterful Crémant de Bourgogne is made predominantly from Chardonnay, with a proportion of Pinot Noir, Gamay and Aligoté thrown in for good measure and additional complexity. It has an enticing quality, from the bouquet of white flowers through to the deliciously rounded palate: undeniably charming and definitely moreish.
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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