About this WINE
Champagne Gardet
Champagne Gardet was established in 1895 by Charles Gardet in Chigny-les-Roses, just south of Reims. It was sold to the Prieux family in 2007, who have invested in the business, but wisely retained the features of the style of wine made over the years, only refining it to be a little more forward-drinking with more fruit freshness and balance.
The house owns around 7 ha of premier cru vineyards around the home village of Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes and Rilly la Montagne, the fruit going to the best cuvees in the 1.2 million bottle annual production. The long tirage time and the use of a high proportion of reserve wine has marked the house style, and in fact is a distinguishing feature of Champagne Gardet.
Champagne blend
Which grapes are included in the blend, and their proportion, is one of the key factors determining the style of most Champagnes. Three grapes are used - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
26% of vineyards in Champagne are planted with Chardonnay and it performs best on the Côtes des Blancs and on the chalk slopes south of Epernay. It is relatively simple to grow, although it buds early and thus is susceptible to spring frosts. It produces lighter, fresher wines than those from Burgundy and gives finesse, fruit and elegance to the final blend. It is the sole grape in Blancs de Blancs, which are some of the richest long-lived Champagnes produced.
Pinot Noir accounts for nearly 40% of the plantings in Champagne and lies at the heart of most blends - it gives Champagne its body, structure, strength and grip. It is planted across Champagne and particularly so in the southern Aube district.
The final component is Pinot Meunier and this constitutes nearly 35% of the plantings. Its durability and resistance to spring frosts make the Marne Valley, a notorious frost pocket, its natural home. It ripens well in poor years and produces a soft, fruity style of wine that is ideal for blending with the more assertive flavours of Pinot Noir. Producers allege that Pinot Meunier lacks ageing potential, but this does not deter Krug from including around 15% of it in their final blends.
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Description
Champagne Gardet is a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Meunier and 10% Chardonnay, 3 years on lees with 20% reserve wine, and from grapes sourced from across the entire Champagne region. This non-vintage Brut is emblematic of the Gardet House, with a dense and powerful nose showing Pinot depth and richness, all balanced with fine acidity.The palate is full-bodied, creamy in texture with harmonious yeast flavours prominent. It has a softness and accessibility underpinned with loads of black fruit. A solid, rounded wine, with immediate appeal.
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