Delamotte, Blanc de Blancs, Vintage Brut, Champagne, France, 2014

Overview of the Wine
The House of Delamotte is the fifth-oldest Champagne house in the region, founded in 1760. It is located in the heart of the Côte des Blancs in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Delamotte is small (just 25,000 cases annually) and one of Champagne's best-kept secrets. It is the sister winery of the legendary House of Salon. The two wineries sit side-by-side and are both run by Didier Depond.

"Delamotte has always been somewhat of an insider's house, producing high quality at realistic prices. One of the best buys in exquisitely crafted Champagne."

Winemaker
Didier Depond

Grape / Blend
100% Chardonnay

Origin
Champagne, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Enjoy chilled but never cold (around 8°C) and served in a tulip-shaped wine glass. 

Its  pale  gold  colour,  glinting  with  emerald,  illuminates  the  fine  necklace  of  bubbles  rising  to the surface of the disc in the glass. On  the  nose,  the  wine’s  noble  origins  are unmistakable  in  the  energy  of  its  bouquet:  pure, direct and deep, a strong personality. Its lively attack, palate freshness and mouth-watering minerality are a delight. But it doesn’t end there. The Epicurean will appreciate the supple fruit and notes of brioche that explode, in a dreamy finish.

Enjoy it today before a meal, with some home-made gougeres, still warm from the oven. Or, to stray off the beaten track, try this astonishing pairing as an aperitif: a few savoury veal sweet breads grilled a la plancha, an absolute knock-out. But it is at table that the wine reveals all the facets of its complexity. A sea urchin will lift its iodine notes, a pairing as light as it is airy. The wine will awaken tasty beef agnolotti – that speciality of the Italian Piedmont – and, in combination with parmigiano reggiano, explodes with savoury umami flavours, moreish in the extreme. The most daring will be tempted by a Wagyu beef tartare with Tarbouriech oysters, an unusual surf and turf combination, in which this vintage can unfurl its amazing versatility.

96 Points - Ian Blackburn
As this wine has been in bottle now for 10 years, it’s time to reassess… and the purity here is off the charts.  Great nose - focused yellow and green apple, you can smell the chalky minerality and a kiss of saline…. Fresh, crunchy but with a bit more roundness than at release.  This is my favorite Champagne at this price… 14.5, 23.5, 23.5, 34 = 96 points.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast 
From the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger on the Côte des Blancs, this well-textured Champagne shows a crisp apple freshness underlined by strong minerality. At seven years past vintage, the wine is just starting to lose its initial freshness and develop attractive toasty elements. Drink now.

Product size: 750ml