The Gimonnet family can be traced back to 1750 growing vines around the village of Cuis, south of Epernay, but it was between the wars that Pierre Gimonnet set up the winery that allowed him to become a grower-producer, specialising in Blanc de Blancs. Pierre Gimonnet was succeeded by his son Michel. Michel’s understanding of terroir led him to acquire parcels beyond Cuis and into neighbouring Cramant and Chouilly. Olivier and Didier worked with their father Michel for a decade until his retirement in 1996 (he died in 2008), and have continued, and improved on, his work for over 20 years. His sons have continued this principle, expanding into Oger in 2005 and as far south as Vertus in 2008. The House now has 40 separate parcels across 28 hectares – 16ha of Premier Cru and 12ha of Grand Cru – all in the Côte des Blancs. At harvest time, grapes are handpicked, traditionally pressed and then vinified in small batches, parcel by parcel, in 25 to 125 hectalitre tanks to create the Gimonnet champagne. Today they produce 250,000 bottles.
The Gimonnet house style is freshness and purity we are currently on vintage base year 2016 known as blend or assemblage 189. Each year, Pierre Gimonnet use all the wines they need to reproduce their House Style in their signature blend, Cuis 1er Cru. This classic Non-Vintage is about liveliness, lightness and finesse: all the purity of the Grands Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. Annual production is 129,000 bottles.
Tasting Note: Beautifully pure nose with a lemon and ripe apple richness. On the palate bring more of the ripe citrus notes with some yellow plum and hints of brioche and underlying minerality and a crisp dry finish . Great example of Blanc de Blancs from the Cote des Blancs in the apéritif style. Speaks of the character of Cuis the heart and soul of Gimonnet’s vineyard holdings.
