Champagne Pierre Gimonnet Special Club 2005

Special Club was created in 1971 by 12 grower-producers, now called the Club Trésors de Champagne. Their mission “to promote Champagne produced from 100% estate-owned grapes that are supremely terroir-expressive.” Members can offer a special cuvée to represent the best of their estate which has to be approved by a panel of winemakers to confirm the high standards of the club and it can only be from a top vintage.

The Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay blend represents a small blend of the oldest vines in the house where the grape vines are over forty years old and the two oldest were planted in 1911 and 1913 made mostly of Cramant Grand Cru 60% and Chouilly Grand Cru 25% and a hint of Cuis 1er cru 15%. As a member of the famous ‘Club Trésors’ (Special Club) Gimonnet bottle their best cuvees in the Special Club embossed bottle shape.

Tasting Note: Very fresh with bundles of lemon and lime and beautiful chalky character. The low dosage makes it extra brut but that doesn’t come across as it has so much fruit and ripeness mixed with lees character that builds up to some light custard layering. This feels young and vibrant with an exciting future. This is a good example showing how good one grape variety can be in a region.