It is not very well known outside of France, but Burgundy, arguably the region in France that produces the finest of all wines, and one of the most prestigious of all wine regions in the world, but beyond the illustrious still Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, Burgundy also produces very fine sparkling wines.
Using those same grape varieties and using the méthode traditionnelle, or traditional method of fermenting the wines in the bottle and ageing on lees, Burgundy uses the same winemaking process as is used in Champagne which is the best way to produce fine and refined bubblies.
In Burgundy, those wines come under the name of Crémants de Bourgogne, or Burgundy Crémants.
Essentially, these Crémants wines can be a great option when you’re looking for fine sparkling wines, because they’re French made by knowledgeable people who know the French tradition and have been making them for a very long time, because they are made from prestigious terroirs in Burgundy, and because you don’t pay for the name Champagne on the label, yet you can get excellent fantastic quality.
The Crémant wines introduced here and reviewed below are made by Louis Bouillot, a famous Maison or Burgundy house that was founded back in 1877 and that’s been making sparkling wines for many decades. Louis Bouillot is based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, so in the heart of the prestigious terroirs of the Cote d’Or.
Beyond the house’s savoir-faire or know-how, because they’ve been making bubblies for so long, what’s great about Louis Bouillot is that they make 20 different cuvees of sparkling wines all with their individual identity which is great) to learn about wine and experience different aspects of it, they make wines from different grapes, different terroirs, different vintages.
Here are the sparkling wines made by Louis Bouillot, using different combinations of grape varieties as part of the ‘Les Classiques’ range of non-vintage cuvées, with ratings and full tasting notes.
Learn More about the Influence of Different Grapes on the Expression of Sparkling Wines in Video
Louis Bouillot ‘Perle d’Ivoire’ Blanc de Blancs Crémant de Bourgogne Brut
Score: 90/100 points
Chardonnay with a dash of Aligoté for more vivacity. Fruit coming from the north of Burgundy, slightly cooler brings more acidity and minerality, while grapes from the Mâconnais in the South add richness and texture. Aged for 18 months in bottle on its lees for extra complexity.
The bottle reviewed here was disgorged on 15/05/2019
Overall Review Notes & Tasting Impressions
With a relatively pale lemon-yellow color, yet with shiny hues to it, Perle d’Ivoire, understand ‘The Ivory Pearl’ smells both delicate and vibrant.
Zesty aromas of freshly-squeezed lemon and white flower blossoms are surrounded by a background of buttery brioche of the subtle and almost imperceptible type, yet it adds a world of perceived refinement to the aromatic profile.
This is a really yummy salivating white wine, crisp and driven by an acidic tension. It also comes with very creamy bubbles and a smooth silky texture.
The whole feels refined and very seamless to taste.
The citrusy lemony tension drives the palate, while the slightly leesy and buttery background provides and the smooth creaminess for a vibrant and refined balance.
Dry and crisp, with delicate notes of acacia honey, the wine shines with a surprisingly vibrant floral personality.
Food pairing: delicate appetizers and antipasti, soft cheeses on toast, sushi, asparagus in vinaigrette, oysters.
Louis Bouillot ‘Perle de Nuit’ Blanc de Noirs Crémant de Bourgogne Brut
Score: 90/100 points
Pinot Noir with a little Gamay. The Pinot Noir provides structure, while the Gamay adds fruity punch.
The bottle reviewed here was disgorged on 17/12/2018
Aged for 24 months in bottle on its lees for extra complexity.
Overall Review Notes & Tasting Impressions
This Blanc de Noirs comes in a charming pale salmon pink color which is not usual with white sparkling wines but actually very appealing as it genuinely looks like what it is, a white wine made from red grapes. This slightly ‘taché’ or ‘gris’ color is rare and makes the wine appear unique.
While the color may somewhat make you think the wine is going to be exuberantly fruity, the red barry aromas it features and very delicate and subtle. Fresh strawberry and pomegranate. A pungent freshly-squeezed grapefruit aroma adds zestiness to an otherwise very fine and refined aromatic profile, delivering its fruity and floral tones with discretion and elegance.
Plenty of crisp and mineral acidity strikes on the palate. It comes with distinctive silky phenolics providing a fine-grained drying texture that makes you salivate and want to pair the wine with food. These add hints of pleasing tea-like smooth bitterness as well.
Bubbles are very fine and creamy, for an overall very balanced and smooth texture.
The palate is marked by an explosion of grapefruit and pomegranate flavors, although, like what appears to be Louis Bouillot’s house style, those are always delivered with finesse and somewhat of a restrained, refined approach. The nearly imperceptible creaminess to the background is there amplifying this smoothened effect to the tasting experience.
A beautiful and elegant example of Blanc de Noirs, slightly looser with a little less citrusy and floral tension than the Blanc de Blancs, more opulent red berry tones, yet the same signature finesse of delivery here.
Food pairing: with its crispness, silky texture and its salivating phenolics, this wine will pair with a wide variety of mildly-flavored dishes. From a variety of creamy entrée to antipasti, to as Louis Bouillot suggests: sweet-and-sour oriental combinations: Tagine, chicken with dried apricot and raisins which will work wonders with the delicately drying feel of the wine.
Louis Bouillot ‘Perle de Vigne’ Grande Réserve Crémant de Bourgogne Brut
Score: 91+/100 points
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Gamay. Aged for 12 months on lees in the bottle.
The bottle reviewed here was disgorged on 23/05/2019
Overall Review Notes & Tasting Impressions
A shiny sparkling with a bright lemon-yellow color intensified by hints of gold hues.
The wine throws very delicate aromas on the nose, but feels generous and ripe, filled with gorgeous sun-ripen fruit aromas, apricot and juicy white peach dominate on a background of whipped cream notes. Tempting yet elegant to smell at!
A complete and utterly balanced texture, Perle de Vigne offers with the exact combination of a creamy and oily texture to balance out the vibrant acidity to near perfection.
Flavors are plentiful and varied, from ripe lemon and limoncello liqueur, to delicate toasted hazelnut and brioche, mixed sweet spiced, almond and licorice, apricot and fresh grapes. Every second of a careful tasting reveals a slightly different note for an intense and complex Crémant that always delivers with control and refinement.
The mark of a classy and refined sparkling wine.
Like a complex and refined fresh white peach juice in a way, but also reminiscent of an orange liqueur. Yet with so much more leesy complexity and the depth and layered tasting experience only thoughtful blends can provide.
Food pairing: Aperitifs, fine charcutier, prosciutto, grilled fish and grilled vegetables, any type of seafood entree or dish really.
Louis Bouillot ‘Perle d’Aurore’ Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé Brut
Score: 90/100 points
Blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay.
To obtain the hue of Perle d’Aurore, the grapes must be macerated for a very short and carefully controlled period, before the fruit is pressed. Ageing is kept deliberately short at 12 months, which allows the wine to reveal all its personality, whilst preserving its characteristic crispness and fruitiness.
The bottle reviewed here was disgorged on 28/05/2019.
Overall Review Notes & Tasting Impressions
A sparkling rosé with an elegant salmon pink color, slightly pale yet with some vibrant intensity, it looks appealing.
The aromatic profile bursts with vibrant scents of fresh red berries, strawberry and raspberry, white blossoms, some pomegranate and pink grapefruit. Hints of lime and lemon for a zesty and fruity nose. Delicate hints of brioche and cream make for a smell bursting with fruitiness yet delivered with elegance and refinement.
The wine’s texture is creamy and smooth with delicate fine bubbles, while a solid acidity makes the lime and grapefruit dominant flavors shine. Very balanced overall on a silky texture, it’s a burst citrus, red berry and pomegranate flavors for an intense and charming tasting experience.
Dry but with enough residual sweetness to feel mellow, round and fruity.
Salivating and subtly phenolics make your salivate with envy to the finish and promises a particularly food-friendly pink bubbly.
Food pairing: elegant wine for a classy dinner or cocktail party, perfect with canapés but also a fruit or chocolate dessert.
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