Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Premier Cru 'Terroir de Cuis Les Nogers' 2018

In 1986, Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet decided to stop selling off grapes to negociants and started Dhondt-Grellet. Their focus on farming translated into honest Champagnes from great holdings across the Côte des Blancs.

Starting with two hectares, the domaine has now tripled in size and starting gaining real attention when Adrien took over winemaking in 2012 at age 22. Today, joined by his sister Alice, he has slowly increased the range of Champagnes produced by isolating their holdings across the villages of Cramant and Cuis and bottling pure expressions of Chardonnay. Most recently, he launched a small negociant project to satisfy his curiosity outside of his own domaine’s style. 

Adrien has an ambitious vision with no signs of slowing down and we couldn’t be more excited about the direction of this young domaine. 

Starting with the 2012, Adrien started to bottle the wine under the name of the lieu dit - Les Nogers. Adrien’s parcel in Les Nogers is of old vines, now over 50 years old. It is a particularly interesting lieu dit because it is a continuation on the same hill as Le Bateau (Cramant) but in the village of Cuis. His parcel begins with sandy-clay, becoming chalkier as you ascend the slope.

Hand harvested at optimum maturity. Very gentle pressing. First press. Alcoholic fermentation in barrels. Aged 8 months on fine lees in barrels. Ageing in the cellar. Disgorgement in November 2023. Production of 3500 bottles/year. Dosage: 1.5 gr/l (Extra-Brut).

"The 2018 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Les Nogers Extra-Brut Champagne is a wine-forward and demonstrative Champagne of exceptional definition, originating from the village of Cuis. This full-bodied gastronomic Champagne, fermented and aged in barrels, is extremely enveloping, marked by toasted notes, warm bread, light flowers, and white fruits. It boasts great complexity, with the charm of the vintage enhancing it further! As always, true to the House's signature, it concludes with an energetic and utterly irresistible saline finish." - 95 Points, Robert Parker

Producer: Dhondt-Grellet

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru

Vintage: 2018

Size: 750ml