Champagne Dhondt-Grellet, Cramant, Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru, Extra Brut (Base 2019)
Critics reviews
Aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit and mirabelle plum mingle with notions of freshly baked bread, almond paste and white flowers in an inviting bouquet that introduces Dhondt's NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cramant (2019), a full-bodied, ample and pillowy Champagne that unites texture, generous racy acids and a chalky structure. Seamless and complete, it concludes with a long, mineral finish.
Drink 2022 - 2037
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (August 2022)
The most complete of the range, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Blanc De Blancs Cramant Extra Brut certainly retains the power that you come to expect from Dhondt, but it has another level of finesse that takes this one to the next level. A bright yellow hue, it opens to aromas of lemon curd, ripe pear, crushed stones, tarragon, and savory herbs. It moves seamlessly to the palate with a wonderful arch and a refined mousse as well as a chalky and silky-smooth texture that’s graceful throughout. A very impressive wine, it’s hard to resist now, but I imagine will improve greatly over the coming few years if given the time.
Drink 2025 - 2037
Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com (November 2023)
Disgorged: October, 2022. Dosage is 1gr/L.
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru is based on the 2019 vintage, harvested from 50-year-old vines, with a 30% addition of a perpetual reserve dating back to 1986. This is from two plots: La Garennes on richer soils that used to be market gardens, and Les Longes Verges with less topsoil, infected by fanleaf virus which results in small, concentrated grapes. The nose has fresh apple notes and the merest touch of crumbled chicken stock cube. The palate is beautifully taut, notwithstanding the ripeness Dhondt aims for, and a cut-through saltiness with a pure, bright lemon freshness. Slight phenolics on the finish add structure.
Drink 2023 - 2035
Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous.com (September 2024)
This 2019-based wine comes from two lieux-dits in Cramant, La Garennes and Les Longues Verges. There is an attractive shyness to the nose, promising a lot. The chalky toned peach and yellow-plum nose handle the oaky notes very well. There is a fine toastiness waiting to emerge with time in the glass. Quite the powerhouse on the palate, with such tightness speaking of longevity. This is fresh and feisty but at the same time superbly concentrated and gourmand. There is a chalky bite to the texture and a tickly sensation from the creamy-energetic mousse, refreshing the dense whole. This is a complete and characterful wine with an even finer future ahead.
Essi Avellan MW, EssiAvellan.com (February 2023)
About this WINE
Champagne Dhondt Grellet
Champagne Dhondt-Grellet is a small, family-owned producer in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne, France. The Côte des Blancs is renowned for its Chardonnay vineyards, and many producers in this area, including Dhondt-Grellet, often focus on producing Blanc de Blancs Champagne, made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes.
Dhondt-Grellet emphasises traditional and meticulous production methods. This includes hand-harvesting grapes, using conventional pressing techniques, and extended ageing on the lees to develop complex flavours.
Blanc de Blancs
In Champagne, the term Blanc de Blancs designates Champagnes made only from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards located between Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger in Côte des Blancs yield the best examples of the style.
A classic Blanc de Blancs is restrained and elegant when young, yet with ageing it develops a mouth-coating brioche richness that overlays an intense expression of fruitiness. Blanc de Blancs are endowed with longer ageing potential than a typical Blanc de Noirs.
Recommended Producers: Salon, Billecart Salmon, Jacques Selosse, Dom Ruinart, Krug, Le Mesnil Grand Cru, Guy Larmandier
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
Disgorged: October, 2022. Dosage is 1gr/L.
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru is based on the 2019 vintage, harvested from 50-year-old vines, with a 30% addition of a perpetual reserve dating back to 1986. This is from two plots: La Garennes on richer soils that used to be market gardens, and Les Longes Verges with less topsoil, infected by fanleaf virus which results in small, concentrated grapes. The nose has fresh apple notes and the merest touch of crumbled chicken stock cube. The palate is beautifully taut, notwithstanding the ripeness Dhondt aims for, and a cut-through saltiness with a pure, bright lemon freshness. Slight phenolics on the finish add structure.
Drink 2023 - 2035
Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous.com (September 2024)
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