2018 Frederic Savart Le Mont Benoit

The 2018 Extra Brut Premier Cru Le Mont Benoit unwinds in the glass with scents of orange oil, nectarine and peach mingled with hints of white flowers, buttery pastry and frangipane. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and precise, with a racy spine of acidity and a fine-boned, elegant profile, it concludes with a bright, chalky finish.

The 2018 Brut Nature Le Mont Benoit soars from the glass with exuberant citrus, pastry apple tart, brioche and a touch of reduction. The Mont Benoit is 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Chardonnay, but it is the Pinot with notable brightness that drives this blend. White pepper, slate, crushed rocks and lemon confit all build as the 2018 shows off its considerable allure. I very much admire the vibrancy, but at the same time strong reductive character and an aggressive finish are hard to look past. Perhaps the 2018 will come together with more time in bottle, but I have my doubts. Disgorged: May, 2022.