Dhondt Grellet, Dans Un Premier Temps Extra Brut NV (2018 Base)

Based on 2005 vintage with 30% reserve wine from their 'Solera' dating back to the beginning of production in 1986.

They farm their old vines Biodynamically, focussing on biodiversity in the vineyard, and encouraging the vines to produce top-quality fruit.

This is an Extra-Brut style, with just 4g/L Sugar added. (Brut=6-12g/L).

The estate is located near Avize, in a small village called Flavigny. It is in the heart of the Cote des Blancs, where they have approximately 6 hectares of vines. The vines’ average age is around 40 years – extremely old by Champagne standards. These are from mostly Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites. They’ve been making wine since 1986, when Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet decided to stop selling grapes to negociants, and start producing their own Champagnes, establishing Dhondt-Grellet.

Eric and Edith’s son Adrian has taken on production. The energetic 25 year old has been rapidly expanding the incredible range of Champagnes produced from their different sites, focusing on plot-by-plot vinification to express the sense of place in the bottle, with Particular concentration on their plots around the villages of Cramant and Cuis. Chardonnay is at the heart and soul of the estate’s wines, and all express wonderful mineral qualities, along with balancing savoury nuances.