Jeb Dunnuck (Audrey Frick) 94 pts! Medium-bodied, the 2018 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut is a more approachable vintage, very appealing and detailed, with more length, making it a refreshing and elegant wine. It has a refined sensibility, with notes of lemon-lime sherbet, fresh shortbread, and a hint of salty earth that comes through on the sides of the palate, as well as smoky, wet stones. True to the estate, it maintains all its classic freshness, finishing with notes of powdery chalk and fresh almond. It should have a wide window for peak enjoyment. Drink 2025-2045.<!--more-->The sister house to Salon, Delamotte owns 10 hectares of vineyards in Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant, and Avize. They purchase grapes from 80 hectares, mostly Chardonnay from Oiry and Chouilly, as well as some Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims in Bouzy, Ambonnay, and Tours-sur-Marne. A small amount of Meunier is purchased from around Epernay. When Salon does not produce a vintage wine, those parcels are used in the production of Delamotte bottlings. Like Salon, the wines are fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel; however, malolactic fermentation is achieved on a case-by-case basis. (Drink between 2025 - 2045)
Wine Advocate (Kristaps Karklins) 92 pts! Delamotte's 2018 Blanc de Blancs is only the fourth edition since 2008. Since Michel Fauconnet found it expressive earlier, it was disgorged after four and half years of aging on the lees (as opposed to the six years typical of previous editions) with a dosage of 5.5 grams per liter. Sourced from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry, it comes from a lower-acid vintage that’s charming and inviting, revealing aromas of tangerine, dried white flowers and pear. Full-bodied, generous and even powerful, it is underpinned by ripe yet vibrant acidity. It will offer a broad drinking window, but to minimize the vintage signature and maximize reflection of its origins, a few extra years under cork are advisable.
Burghound 92 pts! The elevated heat of the 2018 vintage is manifest on the ripe aromas of citrus confit, poached pear, baked apple and quinine-scented nose. There is good richness allied with good verve to the moderately generous medium-bodied flavors where the supporting mousse is also moderate while remaining relatively fine before terminating in an acceptably complex, nice dry and sneaky long finale. For my taste this needs more depth and while it certainly could already be enjoyed, I would advise allowing to slumber for another 4 to 6 years first. (Drink starting 2028)
2018 Delamotte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Millesime
2018 Delamotte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Millesime
Jeb Dunnuck (Audrey Frick) 94 pts! Medium-bodied, the 2018 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut is a more approachable vintage, very appealing and detailed, with more length, making it a refreshing and elegant wine. It has a refined sensibility, with notes of lemon-lime sherbet, fresh shortbread, and a hint of salty earth that comes through on the sides of the palate, as well as smoky, wet stones. True to the estate, it maintains all its classic freshness, finishing with notes of powdery chalk and fresh almond. It should have a wide window for peak enjoyment. Drink 2025-2045.<!--more-->The sister house to Salon, Delamotte owns 10 hectares of vineyards in Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant, and Avize. They purchase grapes from 80 hectares, mostly Chardonnay from Oiry and Chouilly, as well as some Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims in Bouzy, Ambonnay, and Tours-sur-Marne. A small amount of Meunier is purchased from around Epernay. When Salon does not produce a vintage wine, those parcels are used in the production of Delamotte bottlings. Like Salon, the wines are fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel; however, malolactic fermentation is achieved on a case-by-case basis. (Drink between 2025 - 2045)
Wine Advocate (Kristaps Karklins) 92 pts! Delamotte's 2018 Blanc de Blancs is only the fourth edition since 2008. Since Michel Fauconnet found it expressive earlier, it was disgorged after four and half years of aging on the lees (as opposed to the six years typical of previous editions) with a dosage of 5.5 grams per liter. Sourced from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry, it comes from a lower-acid vintage that’s charming and inviting, revealing aromas of tangerine, dried white flowers and pear. Full-bodied, generous and even powerful, it is underpinned by ripe yet vibrant acidity. It will offer a broad drinking window, but to minimize the vintage signature and maximize reflection of its origins, a few extra years under cork are advisable.
Burghound 92 pts! The elevated heat of the 2018 vintage is manifest on the ripe aromas of citrus confit, poached pear, baked apple and quinine-scented nose. There is good richness allied with good verve to the moderately generous medium-bodied flavors where the supporting mousse is also moderate while remaining relatively fine before terminating in an acceptably complex, nice dry and sneaky long finale. For my taste this needs more depth and while it certainly could already be enjoyed, I would advise allowing to slumber for another 4 to 6 years first. (Drink starting 2028)
