2009 Champagne Penet-Chardonnet, Cuvée Prestige Coline & Candice, Grand Cru, Verzy, Extra Brut
Critics reviews
The NV Extra Brut Coline & Candice Verzy Grand Cru is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both from Verzy, fermented and aged in barrel. A wine of balance and harmony, the Coline & Candice exudes character. Fermentation in barrel adds texture and richness, but without being especially noticeable. The interplay of dense fruit and the tension that is such a signature of Alexandre Penet's Champagnes yields a wine of real distinction. Disgorged on October 5, 2016. Dosage is 5.6 grams per liter.
Drink 2017 - 2025
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (November 2017)
Rather flirtatious, lifted perfume. Very marked acidity, despite the late harvest. Not the completeness of some of this producer’s Pinot Noir wines. A bit drying on the finish.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com (August 2021)
About this WINE
Champagne Penet-Chardonnet
Champagne Penet-Chardonnet has 400 years of winemaking history behind it. The estate spans six hectares, spread over 30 small plots across Verzy and Verzenay in the Montagne de Reims.
Located in the north-eastern extremity of the region, this land is 100% Grand Cru, and is home to some of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in all of Champagne. The Penet family farms their estate with the utmost care for nature, using sustainable and organic methods.
The estate is now run by fourth generation winemaker Alexandre Penet and his wife Martine, who have redefined the house style since taking over in 2009. Alexandre vinifies all crus separately, bottling the best sites as single lieu dits. These wines are set to become some of the most desired in the region: detail, expressive and made with precision, they are totally distinctive in personality.
Brut Champagne
Brut denotes a dry style of Champagne (less than 15 grams per litre). Most Champagne is non-vintage, produced from a blend from different years. The non-vintage blend is always based predominately on wines made from the current harvest, enriched with aged wines (their proportion and age varies by brand) from earlier harvests, which impart an additional level of complexity to the end wine. Champagnes from a single vintage are labelled with the year reference and with the description Millésimé.
Non-vintage Champagnes can improve with short-term ageing (typically two to three years), while vintages can develop over much longer periods (five to 30 years). The most exquisite and often top-priced expression of a house’s style is referred to as Prestige Cuvée. Famous examples include Louis Roederer's Cristal, Moët & Chandon's Dom Pérignon, and Pol Roger's Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill.
Recommended Producers : Krug, Billecart Salmon, Pol Roger, Bollinger, Salon, Gosset, Pierre Péters, Ruinart
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
Upon Alexandre Penet’s taking over the reins at Champagne Penet, he decided to create a new prestige cuvée to represent the finest expression of Verzy. The Coline & Candice Cuvée Prestige is named after his two daughters, and is sourced from only the best sites of Verzy. 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir are used, and all the wine was vinified and matured in barrique. This wine has notes of orange peel, white peach pricked with clove and golden apple, with a soft mousse and long mineral finish.
Drink 2023 - 2030
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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