Gimmonet-Gonet L'Identité - Grand Cru - Blanc de Blancs 2014

In 1986, Philippe Gimonnet and Anne Gonet bottled their first Champagnes together as Champagne Gimonnet-Gonet, with the goal to produce wines of the highest quality. Phillipe and Anne started with just 5 hectares, which have since grown into 13.5 hectares, mostly in Grand Cru villages of the Côtes des Blancs: Chouilly, Cramant, Oiry, Oger and Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger. They also have smaller holdings of Pinot Noir and Meunier in the Vallée de la Marne in the villages of Bouquigny, Vincelles, Verneuil and Trélou. In 2012, their son, Charles, joined the team, and together the family works as naturally as possible in both the vineyard and the cellar to craft Champagnes of elegance, distinction and quality.

The 2014 L’Identité Grand Cru Brut is produced from 100% Chardonnay from Cramant and Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger. Overall, the 2014 vintage was challenging. The growing season started good with a warm, dry spring, though the summer through August was cool and particularly damp. September proved to be warm and dry and Chardonnay in the Côtes des Blancs produced some exceptional wines. Mid-gold color with lemon highlights and a complex nose of white flowers, ripe pear, toast, almond, persimmon and red cassis. Incredible depth and richness on the palate with great tension and focus, though supremely balanced in its structure and flavor intensity. The fine bubbles spread across the palate like butter on toast, coating the mouth with decadent flavors and an almost ermine texture. Stupendous length and complexity with a touch of caramel on the finish. 4g/l dosage, only 4,000 bottles produced.