Duval-Leroy : Femme de Champagne Grand cru

If this cuvée, vintage 1996, particularly dazzled us last year, its younger sibling—so to speak—non‑vintage, nonetheless shines for its consistency. Great purity and refined flavors.

Bright golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine nuances of biscuit, ripe yellow peach fruit, fine nutty notes, candied orange zest. Juicy, tight-knit, delicate hints of quince and blossom honey, finesse-rich acidity, white apple and hazelnut on the finish, racy and lemon notes on the finish, mineral-salty aftertaste, shows good length, ensures certain ageing potential.

The NV Brut Grand Cru Femme de Champagne (L6305NM, disgorged in October 2016, tasted in November 2017) is a blend of four grand cru villages: Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (Chardonnay: 80%) and Ambonnay (Pinot Noir: 20%). Fermented at 14% in oak, the wine opens with a clear, fresh and subtle bouquet of white fruits with citrus flavors that indicate the freshness and finesse of Chardonnay. It is a lean and very elegant, juicy but also creamy and well-structured blend with a long and aromatic finish that reveals the junior Pinot Noir part. There is nice salinity and green tea flavors (mint) in the aftertaste. This is still a very fresh and youthful example. Dosage: five grams per liter.