Guide VERON des Champagnes 2015
(approximately
20 euros)
Fourth generation of wine growers, the champagne Driant-Valentin relies on its 8 hectare vineyard settled in the Grauves regions, in the cote des blancs for the chardonnay (75%) and in Ay grand cru for the pinot noir (25%), to elaborate around 70 000 bottles of quality champagnes per year.
Luxurious and original presentation, refreshing. Frosted glass flask, in a silver costume.
Visual
aspect :
- Pale gold.
- Fine and dynamic bubbles.
- Discreet and persistent bead.
Nose :
- Elegant and subtle.
- First the presence of the chardonnay, exclusive
grape variety, with delicate aromas of citrus fruits (lemon and
grapefruit), apple, pear, exotic fruits (mango and kiwi), hazelnut and
white flowers, as well as a note of iodized breeze and menthol.
- The nose then evolves towards soft nuances of honey and caramel, expressions of the maturity obtained by 6 years of ageing on laths, before disgorgement, with slow autolysis of the yeasts of the prise de mousse.
Palate :
- Pure attack, allowed by the rigorous selection of
the very first first juices during the pressing (tete de cuvee),
underlined by a minerality specific to the chalky soil on which the grapes
grew and were harvested in 2006 (80%) and 2005 (20%), in 35 year old
vineyards.
- Remarkable vitality thanks to an adjusted dosage
with 6g/L of added sugar during disgorgement, with a soft effervescence,
leading to a balanced, generous and sensual finish, strengthened by the
judicious realisation of the malolactic fermentation on the base wines.
- Good length in the mouth.
With this Brut Blanc de Blancs, wine grower David Driant knew how to use his wine growing and oenologic savoir-faire to realise a soft interpretation of the premier cru de Grauves regions.
To enjoy during the aperitif or during a meal with friends, to accompany clams gratinees with hazelnut butter, for example.
