Champagne Extra Brut BdB 1er Cru 'Les Terres Fines' Dhondt Grellet

The Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru “Les Terres Fines” from Domaine Dhondt Grellet represents a personal interpretation of Chardonnay from Cuis, a village classified as Premier Cru located in the Côte des Blancs region, by Adrien, the young winemaker marking the entrance of the new generation in the winery. A cuvée that expresses the full characteristic strength of a terroir characterized by the significant presence of chalk and managed with an agronomic approach respectful of the environment.

“Les Terres Fines” is the name of the lieu-dit where Domaine Dhondt Grellet cultivates the Chardonnay grapes for the production of its Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs. The vines have an average age of 45 years and are grown in a soil rich in limestone in the area of the municipality of Cuis, just south of Epernay, a village classified as Premier Cru in the renowned Côte des Blancs. The harvest is done by hand and, after pressing, fermentation proceeds spontaneously by the indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The racking allows for the transfer of the wine into French oak barriques, where it undergoes aging on the fine lees for a period of about 6 months, blending 70% of the wine from the vintage with 30% of wines from a solera reserve started in 1986, the year the winery was founded. Once the sparkling process in the bottle is completed, the Champagne rests on its lees for 24 months. The final dosage is limited to 2 grams/liter of sugar.

The Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru “Les Terres Fines” from Domaine Dhondt Grellet presents itself visually in a bright straw yellow dress with rich golden reflections and a very fine effervescence, composed of persistent and tiny bubbles. The nose immediately encounters fresh and fragrant aromas, reminiscent of freshly baked bread and buttery pastry notes, the fruitiness of citrus peels, and even lemon turned into jam. The glass does not skimp on some floral facets, like spontaneous wildflowers, and crunchy hints of green apple. The tasting reveals an intense character, dominated by a peculiar chalky minerality that dries the palate and resolves in the finish with citrus references, spiciness of ginger, and a persistent salty trail. The freshness soon emerges to balance the sip, which closes on balsamic hints of rosemary.