Les Bauves, Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2014

Wine Description for Les Bauves Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2014 by Waris-Larmandier

Colour & Appearance

Pale golden yellow with delicate, fine mousse, bearing witness to the extended maturation on the lees. The perlage rises elegantly and persistently.

Nose

A remarkable, mature Champagne that recalls great Chenin Blancs from the Loire – only with bubbles. The nose reveals a fascinating complexity: ripe fruit merges with hawthorn, butter and praline. Added to this are honey, nougat and roasted almonds, underpinned by fine chalk and citrus peel. This multi-layered character is the result of at least five years of ageing sur lattes.

Palate

On the palate, the Grand Cru reveals itself to be surprisingly vibrant and lively. The quite lively acidity contrasts beautifully with the maturity and is carried by a creamy, effervescent mousse. The wine presents itself as fruity, silky and juicy, with a fleshy, very ripe fruit threaded through with fine minerality – a hallmark of Cramant’s chalk soils.

Finish

Long, mineral and with persistent freshness that perfectly balances the maturity. The creamy texture lingers for some time.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Les Bauves is located in Cramant at 115 metres elevation, approximately 2.2 kilometres from the domaine. The Chardonnay vines were planted between 1962 and 1998 and are rooted in the famous chalk soils of the Côte des Blancs, which impart the wine’s characteristic minerality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay from hand-harvesting, pressed in a traditional 4,000 kg Coquard press. Only the first pressing (cuvée) was used. Spontaneous fermentation and ageing in stainless steel without malolactic fermentation, followed by at least five years of maturation on the lees. No dosage – a pure expression of terroir.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Excellent with char with dashi beurre blanc and kaffir lime, hazelnut blini with artichokes and black truffle or calf’s sweetbreads with smoked eel jus. The maturity and creaminess of the Champagne harmonises perfectly with buttery sauces and delicate textures.

Special Features

An extraordinary vintage Champagne that perfectly embodies the philosophy of Waris-Larmandier: minimalist winemaking that gives maximum expression to terroir. The maturity of 2014 is displayed here in full splendour.