Vilmart & Cie Champagne 'Grand Cellier d'Or' 2016

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Type: Champagne

Grape: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir

Vilmart & Cie. traces its history back to 1890, when it was founded by Désiré Vilmart, and from the beginning, the house has always been a récoltant-manipulant, making champagne exclusively from estate-owned vines. The majority of Vilmart’s 11 hectares of vines lie in  Rilly-la-Montagne, although there are a few plots just over the border in the neighboring village of Villers-Allerand. Vilmart is a member of  Ampelos, an organization that promotes organic and sustainable viticulture, and 5th generation winemaker Laurent Champs has never used any herbicides or chemical fertilizers since taking over the estate. All of the vineyards are planted with cover crops and plowed, and Champs enjoys an additional advantage in that his parcels are relatively large—only 12 different parcels over 11 hectares—meaning that he is more protected from contamination by chemical treatments in neighboring plots. 

Rich and luscious, with aromas of orange blossom, mint, herbs and spice, this wine has fullness, complexity, and great depth of flavor.