THE PENGUIN ON TOUR: CHAMPAGNE - PART FOUR - ALSO TASTED....VILMART, PIERRE PETERS + MORE

See below notes from a smattering of other top grower and small producer wines tasted while in Champagne (plus one purchased in Lyon in 2013). This eclectic selection confirms in the most positive way that there has never been a better time to drink premium Champagne.

NV VILMART GRANDE RESERVE
Producer: Vilmart
Variety: Champagne/Sparkling Wine (70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay)
Vintage: Non-vintage
Region: Champagne, France
ABV: 12.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 28 May 2014

Tasting Note:
Blend of Premier Cru Pinot Noir (70%) and Chardonnay grown in Rilly-la-Montagne.
Bright lemon yellow with greenish tinge. Fine and persistent bead. Clean and fresh bouquet of crystallised fruit (honeydew melon, orange, cumquat). Nutty notes emerge with air. Crystallised fruits flow through to the palate which is fine, fruity and elegant.
Score: 16/20

NV BENOIT LAHAYE BRUT NATURE
Producer: Benoit Lahaye
Variety: Champagne/Sparkling Wine (90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay)
Vintage: Non-vintage
Region: Champagne, France
ABV: 12.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 29 May 2014

Tasting Note:
Predominantly Pinot Noir from the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. No dosage.
Copper tinged hue. Expressive and intense nose of red fruits interwoven with bright citrus. Weighty, rich palate of real substance and depth. Delicate red fruit carries the palate, underlined by grapefruit citrus.
Score: 17/20

2005 PIERRE GIMMONET BLANC DE BLANCS OENEPHILE 1ER CRU
Producer: Pierre Gimmonet
Variety: Champagne/Sparkling Wine (100% Chardonnay)
Vintage: Non-vintage
Region: Champagne, France
ABV: 12.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 30 May 2014

Tasting Note:
No dosage.
Pale silvery yellow with golden glints. Clean piercingly fresh nose – direct and forthright! Freshly squeezed lemon juice, crisp green apple, grilled hazelnuts. Dry but not austere. Slight creaminess up-front, very fresh and alive. Real depth and substance on the mid-palate.
Score: 17.5/20

NV PIERRE PETERS BLANC DE BLANCS GRAND CRU
Producer: Pierre Peters
Variety: Champagne/Sparkling Wine (100% Chardonnay)
Vintage: Non-vintage
Region: Champagne, France
ABV: 12.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 31 May 2014

Tasting Note:
100% Chardonnay from Le-Mesnil-Sur-Oger.
Very pale silvery lemon in appearance. Steely nose of lemon zest, greengage and crap apple. Dry, slightly chalky in the mouth, limpid, tart green apples, lemony acidity. Real cut and verve!
Score: 16.5/20 

Tasted in Lyon in 2013.  Emmanuel Brochet is a tiny producer with just a few hectares under vine.  If this bottle is any evidence, quality is excellent.

NV EMMANUEL BROCHET CHAMPAGNE EXTRA BRUT ‘LE MONT BENOIT’
Producer: Emmanuel Brochet
Variety: Champagne & Sparkling (40% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir)
Vintage: Non-vintage
Region: Champagne, France
ABV: 12.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 9 September 2013

Tasting Note:
Bright lemon yellow with golden glints. Very fine vigorous bead on pouring. Small bubbles. Attractive nose of acacia, grilled hazelnuts, red apples, grapefruit pith. Moderate autolysis. Smells mature. Dry and elegant palate; not austere in any way. Finishes very long. A very good grower Champagne that is more than a match than any Grande Marque at the same price.
Score: 17+/20