Entirely from Premier and Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs, the 2017 Champagne Blanc De Blancs Cuvée Fleuron Brut is a bright yellow hue and is compact and powerful, yet crystalline, with notes of crystalized ginger, fresh pear, honey, and lemon candies. Long on the palate, it’s elegant with ripe concentration, a core of fresh acidity, and a pristine finish. A superb wine from this vintage, it’s great now and will drink well over the next 6-8 years.

Didier, part of the third generation of the Gimonnet family, oversees the winemaking of their family winery, based in Cuis, in the heart of the Côtes de Blancs. This wine, like all of their chardonnay-centric wines, is laser focused. According to Didier, he wants a rosé that tastes like a blanc de blancs with colour. "Powerful chardonnay." It certainly succeeds. This bottling sources fruit from Cramant, Oger, and Chouilly, adding 5% Bouzy still pinot noir. This pale-hued rosé champagne is as light as a rosé champagne can be, with tight wild strawberry, subtle raspberry, pink florals, crisp green apple, white grapefruit rind, and subtle fresh green herbs, along a sleek and narrow palate. As always, this tastes the most chardonnay a rosé champagne can be, and is so very singular and charming for it. Enjoy, liberally, if you love chardonnay but want to pair it with wild mushrooms / salmon canapés.

This delightful Blanc de Blancs marries excellent depth of character – all the citrus, crisp pear and floral aromas of chardonnay – with charm. Properly dry, but very harmonious, thanks to the excellent balance of citrusy freshness and creaminess. Long, clean finish, accentuated by the lively mousse.