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."

Grape / Blend
100% Chardonnay

Origin
Champagne, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
After a mild autumn and winter, the vines budded very early. The weather in spring was magnificent, with record-breaking sunshine and drought. Favorable weather in early June proved perfect for flowering. At the same time, it was so dry, everyone was desperate for rain.Then, rain it did! The weather went from one extreme to the other throughout the entire summer: abundant rain and August temperatures that could only be described as ‘autumnal’. We had to wait untilSeptember for a return to warm, sunny weather – and crucially, it was absolutely dry. In short, the ideal conditions for the grapes to ripen. The chardonnay grapes flourished, gaining power right up to harvest, which began on 11th September for the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs. Spared any incident of pests or disease that had developed here and there in the Champagne region, our chardonnays were harvested in pristine condition. They also presented exceptionally high bunch weights – over 150 grams – resulting in a comfortable yield, the ripeness balanced by fine acidity. However disconcerting the weather during the 2014 season, Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2014 has a fine future ahead.

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