A.R. Lenoble Blanc de Blancs, Chouilly, Grand Cru, Brut, Champagne, France, 2008

Overview of the Wine
AR Lenoble is one of the rare producers in Champagne that has been consistently family-owned and entirely independent since the very beginning. Sister-and-brother owners Anne and Antoine Malassagne are the great-grandchildren of Armand-Raphaël Graser. They took over in 1993 from their father and in just over twenty years, and they have quietly yet confidently transformed AR Lenoble into one of the jewels of the Champagne region.

Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Chouilly, Champagne, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes 
AR Lenoble Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2008 is an elegant and complex champagne with yellow apples, honey melon, toast and brioche. A rich mouthfeel, tiny persistent mouse with a smooth and long finish. This is a champagne that will work well with langoustines and turbot.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The A R Lenoble 2008 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Chouilly Brut Mill?sime displays a beautifully intense and golden shining citrus color. This has amazing richness and gentleness on the nose but, at the same time, delicacy, precision and finesse! This bouquet is perfectly ripe and generous but also fine and fresh, representing the chalky soils and warm microclimate of Chouilly as well as perfectly ripe and healthy fruit. Any 2008 austerity here? Negative! The attack on the palate is as fine and fresh as it is pure, piquant and aromatic. Ripe and juicy fruit flavors such as pineapples, lemons and limoncello intermix with a round and creamy but by no means bold or heavy texture that is actually marked by chalk powder and iodine flavors on the finish. In fact, this 2008 Chouilly is delicate and filigreed as well as firmly structured. To me, it is an icon wine for Chouilly, and I highly recommend it, even if only to understand the highly diverse terroirs of Champagne, even in the C?te des Blancs where Chouilly is the most northern village next to Cuis. A small part (10%) of the wine was aged in oak. The finish of the 2008 is fresh and light but also intense and persistent. This is a great vin de terroir, and to be honest, I couldn't stop drinking it! Tasted April 2018.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast 
This is a fine wine from a great vintage. Still young, it is already showing great swathes of apple and tight citrus fruit cut with lemon zest. It has a crisp character, packed with acidity that will soften while always there. Drink this wine from 2018.

Product size: 750ml