Dehours, Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne, France, NV

Overview of the Wine
The Dehours estate was founded by winemaker Jérôme Dehours' grandfather, Ludovic, in 1930 and was among the first independent growers. Jérôme’s father, Robert, then took over the reins, but unfortunately he passed away when Jérôme was young, and a group of financial partners took control of the business. In 1996, Dehours was able to take the estate back into family hands with a focus on sustainable viticulture and an increasing emphasis on the character of individual terroirs. Today, Jerome uses his excellent wines to demonstrate the outstanding potential of Pinot Meunier, which he holds up as the identity of the Marne Valley and of his estate.

In the words of Peter Liem, “Dehours is increasingly becoming better known among champagne aficionados as a source of mouth-filling, boldly-flavored and terroir-expressive wines.”

Organic and Sustainable.

Grape / Blend
Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Origin
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Soft gold in color, the nose is dominated initially by bright citrus notes (orange zest and lemon) and ripe white fruit (pear) and yellow (apricot) and then dissolves into deeper, bottom notes of toasted brioche, apple, pine resin and wax. On the palate, sweet spices of cinnamon, vanilla and white pepper with an intense minerality give the wine an extraordinary brilliance and a taste particularly well suited for aperitifs.

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Disgorged in July 2019 with 5.5 grams per liter dosage, the NV Brut Grande Réserve is based on the 2016 vintage, complemented by around one-third reserve wines from a solera started in 1998. Much like a somewhat earlier disgorgement of the same tirage that I reviewed last year, it's showing very well, wafting from the glass with notes of pear, mandarin oil, elder flower, smoke and honeycomb. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly fleshy and precise, with a perfumed core of fruit, lively acids and a pearly mousse, it's beautifully seamless and elegant.

Product size: 750ml