2012 Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs "D'Ay", Champagne, France - 1.5L MAG

ABOUT THIS WINE

This 2012 vintage is 100% chardonnay from the Aÿ Grand Cru in the Vallée de la Marne. 2012 was a vintage described as "ripe and harmonious" in Champagne. This wine is drinking well now and will age beautifully.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Nicolas Chiquet farms 23 hectares in the Valle de la Marne in the villages of Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay. All of the fruit (including that which is used in the non-vintage cuvee) comes from premier and grand cru grapes. Nicolas does not employ any oak aging at Gaston Chiquet; he believes that concentration, fruit maturity and malolactic fermentation impart enough body and texture to make aging in barrel unnecessary.

The vineyards are planted to equal (forty percent each) parts chardonnay, pinot meunier and twenty percent are planted to pinot noir. Gaston-Chiquet also produces a vintage dated chardonnay from 5 parcels on the western side of the grand cru village of Ay. Usually recognized as a grand cru village for pinot noir, these vines of chardonnay were planted in Ay in the 1930s.