2005 Geoffroy Millesime Extra Brut

The 2005 Extra-Brut Millésime is creamy, layered and deeply expressive, with a good deal of texture and complexity that make it an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. The 2005 is not especially complex, but it is absolutely delicious and a terrific effort for a vintage that has turned out to be irregular. The slightly forward aromatics suggest the 2005 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: March 2016.

The 2005 Extra Brut Millésime is a barrel-fermented cuvée of 53% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 17% Meunier. Disgorged in November 2015 with four grams per liter. The wine opens a bit reductive on the nose, showing some green vegetal flavors (asparagus, peas). Full-bodied and firmly structured on the palate, this is still a baby with an intense flavor, but some stringency and austerity at the moment.

Geoffroy's 2005 Extra-Brut Millésime is soft, delicate and understated. Lemon oil, flowers, mint and white pepper are some of the signatures. The Chardonnay is especially pronounced in the 2005, as the flavors are bright and nicely lifted throughout. Given its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2005 to drink at its best early, but all the elements are in the right place. Above all else, the 2005 speaks to precision, something that was hard to come by in this challenging vintage. Dosage is 2 grams/liter. Disgorged: September 2014.