Gallimard Père & Fils 'Cuvée Grande Réserve' Blanc de Blancs Brut, Les Riceys, Champagne, France NV
Champagne Gallimard Père et Fils has farmed the steep, chalk-and-limestone slopes around Les Riceys for six generations, in the heart of the Aube's Côte des Bar — the southernmost and warmest reach of Champagne, closer to Chablis than to Épernay. Didier and Arnaud Gallimard, father and son, now steward the estate together; Arnaud has become such a fixture of the village that he's often called the unofficial mayor of Les Riceys. While the Côte des Bar is Pinot Noir country at heart, the Gallimards carve out a small parcel of Chardonnay for this bottling, giving it a different register from their Pinot-driven cuvées.
- WINEMAKER: Didier and Arnaud Gallimard
- FARMING: Sustainable, low-intervention viticulture (Agriculture Raisonnée)
- VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay
- TERROIR: Champagne AOC, Côte des Bar, Aube — sourced from the village of Les Riceys, on the region's characteristic chalk and Kimmeridgian limestone slopes.
- AGING: Non-vintage; blended across multiple vintages/reserve wines in the estate's "Grande Réserve" style
- TASTING NOTES: Pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse. Baked apple and light toastiness lead the nose, joined by lime, apricot, and lemon curd. Rich and round on the palate, with mineral drive and a warm, toasty spice note carrying through a long, persistent finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Oysters and shellfish, aperitif service, or roast chicken with citrus.
Gallimard Père & Fils 'Cuvée Grande Réserve' Blanc de Blancs Brut, Les Riceys, Champagne, France NV
Champagne Gallimard Père et Fils has farmed the steep, chalk-and-limestone slopes around Les Riceys for six generations, in the heart of the Aube's Côte des Bar — the southernmost and warmest reach of Champagne, closer to Chablis than to Épernay. Didier and Arnaud Gallimard, father and son, now steward the estate together; Arnaud has become such a fixture of the village that he's often called the unofficial mayor of Les Riceys. While the Côte des Bar is Pinot Noir country at heart, the Gallimards carve out a small parcel of Chardonnay for this bottling, giving it a different register from their Pinot-driven cuvées.
- WINEMAKER: Didier and Arnaud Gallimard
- FARMING: Sustainable, low-intervention viticulture (Agriculture Raisonnée)
- VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay
- TERROIR: Champagne AOC, Côte des Bar, Aube — sourced from the village of Les Riceys, on the region's characteristic chalk and Kimmeridgian limestone slopes.
- AGING: Non-vintage; blended across multiple vintages/reserve wines in the estate's "Grande Réserve" style
- TASTING NOTES: Pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse. Baked apple and light toastiness lead the nose, joined by lime, apricot, and lemon curd. Rich and round on the palate, with mineral drive and a warm, toasty spice note carrying through a long, persistent finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Oysters and shellfish, aperitif service, or roast chicken with citrus.