Dhondt-Grellet 'Les Nogers' Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2020

A remarkable single-vineyard Champagne from Adrien Dhondt, one of the most exciting young growers in the Côte des Blancs. Les Nogers comes from a small parcel of old Chardonnay vines in Cuis Premier Cru, planted in 1974 on exceptionally chalky soils. The 2020 is a powerful yet beautifully precise Blanc de Blancs, offering aromas of lemon zest, white peach, orange peel, toasted hazelnut and delicate brioche. The palate is concentrated and layered, balancing ripe orchard fruit with vibrant acidity, chalky minerality and a long, intensely saline finish. Fermented and aged in oak barrels, this is a Champagne of remarkable depth and texture, combining the energy of Cuis with the richness and complexity that have made Dhondt-Grellet so highly sought after. A serious collector's Champagne with tremendous potential.

Robert Parker / Wine Advocate 96