Pierre Gimonnet et Fils NV Oger Grand Cru
Grand cru d’Oger vineyards
Côte des Blancs
Champagne
France
12.5% alcohol
Cork and cage closure
Grape: Chardonnay
Made by third generation winemakers in a dry style, this bottle had juice from more than one vintage (hence the NV, non-vintage), adding layers of complexity and depth to the finished wine. In these vineyards, the average age of a grapevines is at least 40 years and that well-developed root structure of those vines pulls plenty of mineral notes up from out of the ground. Once harvested, the wines go through both primary and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, helping to better preserve its fresh quality. Interestingly, the finished wine used to top the bottles after disgorgement was stored in bottles, rather than tanks, thereby avoiding significant oxidation.
This blanc de blanc Champagne was filled to the brim with minerality, tart green apples, Asian pears, and lemons! Bright and tart with high levels of acidity, the bubbles in this bottle were– well, really the best way to describe them– vivacious!!
We opened this special bottle of Brut on Christmas and paired it with a cheese board. Matt brought home a selection of cheese, including one infused with peppermint, made especially for the holidays. Pairing this cheese and Champagne together was sheer magic! It was like pop rocks going off in our mouths! (If you didn’t grow up with pop rocks candy, click this link to read more about them.)
SRP $70
You can find this wine online and at your specialty wine shop.