NV Benoit Dehu La Rue des Noyers

The NV (2012) Extra Brut Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Non-Dosé is powerful, dense and austere. A huge center of fruit, remarkable depth and exceptional balance are some of the signatures. The 2012 is a Champagne of real weight and gravitas. It is perhaps just a bit less defined and subtle than the 2013 tasted alongside it, but that is a pretty small critique for a wine of this much character. With time in the glass, the 2012 simply blossoms and becomes more expressive. The Extra Brut Cuvée La Rue des Noyers is 100% Meunier vinified and aged in barrel, with no malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 1 gram per liter. Disgorged March 2014.

The NV Coteaux Champenois La Rue des Noyers Blanc is non-vintaged and made from straightly pressed Pinot Meunier, fermented and aged for 16 months in a single Burgundian pièce. Like the Champagne, there was no malolactic, no racking, no filtering, no cold stabilization and no fining. This is the 2011 and it comes along as a very pure and elegant but full-bodied and intense still wine that shows ripe fruit and intriguingly mineral flavors. Well structured and with a very good and powerful length, this rarity would be worth a try if you can manage to find a bottle.