Lancelot Pienne : Marie Lancelot Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2018

Tasting Characteristics and Advice for the Marie Lancelot Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2018 by Lancelot Pienne

Tasting

Appearance

Bright pale gold hue with luminous highlights. A fine, persistent effervescence enlivens the glass, reflecting the elegance of this champagne.

Nose

The bouquet opens with an intense chalky minerality, the hallmark of Cramant’s terroir, accompanied by iodine and saline notes. Aromas of fresh white flowers, hawthorn and almond blossom bring a springtime dimension. The nose also reveals nuances of candied citrus, fresh lemon and pear, while aeration unveils subtle touches of warm pastries and toasted almonds.

Palate

The attack stands out for its finesse and remarkable tension. The palate expresses both vibrancy and creaminess, carried by a refreshing acidity that gives structure to the whole. Flavors of white fruit, green apple and pear mingle with a creamy texture resulting from extended aging. The finish, exceptionally long, lingers on mineral, chalky and saline notes, with a hint of citrus that brings great precision to the overall impression.

Food and Wine Pairing

This champagne pairs perfectly with fresh oysters, lightly pan-seared scallops or a white fish carpaccio enhanced with lemon and ginger. It also accompanies grilled shellfish, poultry in a cream sauce or spring asparagus with elegance. Ideal as an aperitif as well, it will open a gourmet meal with refinement.

Serving and Cellaring

The Marie Lancelot Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2018 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 8 and 10°C. This champagne can be enjoyed now, but it also has a cellaring potential of around fifteen to twenty years, during which it will continue to develop its aromatic complexity.

A Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru from Cramant with crystalline minerality

The Estate

Champagne Lancelot Pienne embodies more than 120 years of family history in Champagne winegrowing. Established in Cramant at the heart of the Côte des Blancs, the House was born from the union of the Lancelot and Pienne families. Since 2005, Gilles Lancelot has led the estate with a philosophy focused on the authentic expression of terroir and respect for the environment. Joined in 2022 by his son Julien, representing the sixth generation, the estate farms 8.5 hectares of vines. Certified HVE 3 and Terra Vitis, Lancelot Pienne has established itself as one of Champagne’s most respected grower-producers, renowned for its mineral, elegant cuvées that reflect the purity of Cramant’s chalky soils.

The Vineyard

The vineyard from which this Grand Cru cuvée comes is located exclusively on the Champagne terroir of Cramant, at the heart of the Côte des Blancs. The vines, averaging fifty years of age, sink their roots into pure chalk soils characteristic of this exceptional area. These chalky terroirs, composed of outcropping chalk limestone, provide natural water regulation and give the wines this highly sought-after crystalline minerality. The parcels come from several prestigious lieux-dits in Cramant, farmed according to sustainable practices with grass cover between the rows and ploughing for soil work. The advanced age of the vines, some of which were planted in the 1970s, ensures remarkable aromatic complexity and depth of expression.

The Vintage

The 2018 vintage in Champagne proved exceptional, marked by particularly favorable climatic conditions. After an exceptionally rainy winter that replenished water reserves in the chalky soils, the hot, sunny summer enabled ideal grape ripening. The combination of fine phenolic maturity and preserved acidity produced chardonnays of remarkable balance. Harvesting, which began on August 17, 2018, was the earliest ever recorded in the region. The impeccable health of the grapes and their outstanding aromatic concentration made it possible to craft wines of great purity, making 2018 a vintage widely acclaimed as one of the most promising of recent decades.

Vinification and Aging

The Marie Lancelot Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2018 was vinified using methods that favor the pure expression of terroir. After gentle pressing, the musts fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks between 18 and 20°C, preserving aromatic finesse and natural acidity. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation, bringing roundness and complexity. After ten months of aging on lees in tank, bottling took place in July 2019 for secondary fermentation. The champagne then aged for sixty months on laths in the chalk cellars of Cramant, at a constant temperature, thereby developing its aromatic complexity and fine bead. After disgorgement, a minimal dosage of 2.2 g/l was applied, respecting the Extra Brut classification and allowing the terroir to express itself fully.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay from old vines on Cramant’s Grand Cru terroir.