Score: 92/100
The Volupté cuvée by Champagne Geoffroy is focused on revealing the expression of the Chardonnay grape variety from Champagne, France.
It is the only Chardonnay-based cuvée by this winery generally more centered on Pinot Noir.
Below is how the producing winery explains their goal with this sparkling wine:
“Our aim with this Champagne Volupté each year is to provide the most beautiful expression of Chardonnay grown on the soil of Cumières. To preserve the unique character of the Chardonnay, this Champagne is blended differently every year. The chalk on which the Chardonnay vines are cultivated, confers all the elegance, finesse and minerality of this grape variety on this Champagne.”
This wine is made with a selection of what the producer believes are some of the best plots of Chardonnay from the terroir of the Cumières village (Montagne, Chênes, Tournemidi).
It is therefore a Chardonnay-dominant blend with 80% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir, and 10% Pinot Meunier.
Only the cuvée musts are used (the first juices out of the press) and fermented. Each plot is kept seperate and vinified seperately from the others, aged in demi-muid oak casks and barrels.
Tasting Notes:
The tasted bottle was disgorged in December 2015 (see back label images below).
This Champagne wine has a deep and elegant nose, filled with nutty aromas: hazelnut and macadamia.
There’s butter and brioche leesy tones to it, joining in with fresh lemon notes.
On the palate shines a sharp mineral acidity. It’s crisp and precise too.
With a rather restraint style, the flavors are still introvert suggesting the wine has a long aging potential although already being 9 years old when tasted, and further complexity should devellop.
Quality Champagne Chardonnays tend to take time to open up. They can feel shy and subtle for a long time.
Some oily texture and fine bubbles soften the acidic feel on the palate for a good balance on the acidity side.
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