Les Chemins d’Avize Grand Cru Extra Brut 2014

Bright straw yellow with brilliant clear reflections and lively perlage.

On the nose, the 2014 Chemins d'Avize from Larmandier-Bernier is generous and flaunts conglomerate aroma clusters. Warm pastry with ripe yellow apples is accompanied by lemongrass and candied orange peel. Scottish shortbread combines flavours of butter and candied ginger with delicate toasted notes and hazelnuts, Dresden stollen with sultanas and candied lemon peel fuse with mild spices and notes of toffee, fudge and salted caramel. United under the warming blanket of noble oxidation, old gold shine alternates with delicate amber. Large glasses are obligatory, the ice cooler a sacrilege. The serving temperature of a white Burgundy is the path to happiness.

With a chalky texture, the Chemins d'Avize is congenially enriched by its energetic, finely bubbly mousseux. Profound with high inner tension and well-hung maturity, it reminds of works of old Belgian masters on the palate. In subtle sepia, it illuminates a fruit basket with crumbly apples, dried quinces and a handful of nuts, next to a loaf of stale bread, two bushels of grain and a wooden bowl with freshly churned butter. The autumnal still life with powerful body and stately stature completely fills the painting as well as the palate until it flows into the long finish with epochal reverberation. Champagne master class.