Guide VERON des Champagnes 2015
(approximately
19 euros)
Wine grower in Verzenay, in the Reims mountain, for 3 generations, the champagne Duval-Charpentier cultivates with care its 5.5 hectare vineyard. A rigorous selection of its best plots and a precise and inspired oenology give birth each year to approximately 15 000 bottles of champagne of character.
Original and luxurious presentation, with a silver dominant.
Visual
aspect :
- Pale gold, luminous
- Fine bubbles.
- Persistent and delicate bead.
Nose :
- Shy at first, it reveals itself slowly in a
moving aromatic waltz, up to the efflorescence.
- Aromas of honey and gingerbread, caramel and
almond paste, evolving towards coffee, chocolate and light tobacco,
expressions of the rising maturity, obtained by 3 years of ageing on
laths, before disgorgement.
- Dense scents of brandied cherries, Morello cherry, blackcurrant and crystallised strawberry, punctuated with delicate spices (liquorice and pepper), signatures of the pinot noir originated from the grand cru of Verzenay, exclusive grape variety of the cuvee, harvested at perfect maturity on the oldest plots of the estate (some of them are older than 60 years old), assembled directly at the press.
Palate :
- Lively attack, thanks to the selection of the
first juices (cuvee), during the soft pressing of the grapes, and to the
judicious blockage of he malolactic fermentation of the base wines.
- The palate then reveals a rare density, warm and
smooth, nearly carnal-like, thanks to the fair dosage with 8g/L of added
sugar during disgorgement.
- We find again the red fruits and spices
mentionned in the nose.
- Ample finish, carried by a soft and creamy
effervescence.
- Great length in the mouth.
With this Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, producer Arnaud Duval signs a champagne of character, ideal marriage of a year (2009), of a grand cru (Verzenay) and of the pinot noir.
To enjoy during a meal, with a spiced duck breast with melon, for
example.
