Gaston Chiquet Special Club Grand Cru Brut Millesime, Champagne, France 2016

Gaston Chiquet’s Special Club Grand Cru Brut Millésime 2016 is a refined, terroir-driven Champagne that highlights the house’s elegant, Chardonnay-leaning style. A blend of roughly 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, it opens with bright orchard fruit, citrus, and subtle floral tones layered with hints of brioche and hazelnut from extended lees aging. The palate is precise and balanced, carrying a fine, creamy mousse and vibrant acidity that lead to a long, mineral-tinged finish. A graceful and quietly complex grower Champagne, it’s compelling now but has the structure to age beautifully.