Dhondt-Grellet 'Dans un Premier Temps' Extra-Brut NV

I have had a few bottles of this in recent weeks as i moved across Europe. Dhondt Grellet is a producer on the up and up, and with that, the wines are receiving a lot of hype. There's generosity and genuine ripeness to the fruit, providing immediate appeal. But the wines, including this cuvee, are not short on detail either. This comes highly recommended. Ches Cook, FWC.

This the first cuvee of Adrien's range and the largest; he intends it to be an expression of all 6 hectares of his holdings spread across Sezanne, Cuis, and Avenay val d'Or. Vines are an average of 45 years old. The blend is 50% Chardonnay (Sezanne) - 1/2 fermented in barrel, the rest in tank & 30% Pinot Noir tank-fermented (Avenay Val d'Or in Vallee de la Marne), and 20% tank-fermented Pinot Meunier (from old vines in Cuis). The base vintage is 70% of the blend with the remainder a perpetual reserve started in 1986. Dosage 2g/l.

'Bursting with aromas of freshly baked bread, green apple, pear, warm biscuits and wet stones, Dhondt's NV Extra-Brut Dans un Premier Temps (2019) is medium to full-bodied, broad and textural, with a gourmand, enveloping core of fruit, lively acids and a long, sapid finish. A layered, vinous wine, animated by a pinpoint mousse, it's the finest rendition of this cuvee to date.' William Kelley | 92 Points | The Wine Advocate