2012 Gosset Celebris Blanc de Blancs

The first vintage for the Blanc De Blancs vintage Celebris, the 2012 Champagne Celebris Blanc De Blancs pours a youthful yellow hue and is aromatic of fresh white peaches, bread dough, key lime, softer edges, and white flowers. The palate opens to a silky soft, stony texture, with a powdery floral finish. The mousse is elegant and refined, with fantastic balance and gracefulness throughout. This is a beautiful wine in the range to enjoy over the coming 20-25 years. The oldest wine house in Champagne, established by Pierre Gosset in 1584 in Ay, Gosset was purchased by Reynaud-Cointreau in 1993. Today the chef de cave is Odilon de Varine, formerly of Deutz and Henriot, and the philosophy is to adapt to each year and not to get stuck in the past. Each of the growers’ plots are fermented separately and malolactic fermentation is entirely blocked, working with the lees to create roundness in the wines instead. The house has gradually shifted from being predominantly a Pinot Noir house to that of Chardonnay. Total annual production is approximately 1 million bottles, although they have the capacity to produce 1.5 million. They hold a considerable stock of reserve wine going back 60 years, alleviating the pressures to put out more quantity. This year marks the first release ever for the Celebris Blanc de Blancs.