2012 Marguet La Grande Ruelle

The 2012 La Grande Ruelle Grand Cru is a single-vineyard Pinot Noir from lower hillsides on the western part of Ambonnay. The wine has an intense straw-golden color and opens with a pure, deep and complex bouquet with earthy/mineral, iodine and ripe fruit aromas. (Only when I went back from the other cuvées, I noticed a lactic flavor that I didn't pick up before.) On the palate, this is an elegant, fresh, densely textured and firmly structured, very pure and salty-mineral Pinot Noir with a long, tensioned finish and lingering iodine flavors. An impressive, resolute character! Designated on the back label as Extra Brut, this is a non-dosé Champagne that was disgorged in May 2017. No added sulfites. Total production: 2,481 bottles. Tasted May 2018.