Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale les Montjolys 2016 Magnum

Marked by a tight-knit core, the 2016 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Spéciale Les Montjolys is very different from the fuller-bodied, more powerful 2017 rendition. Disgorged in December 2023 with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter, it’s a more linear Montjolys, stylistically reminiscent of the 2013 rendition. Offering up aromas of white flowers, green apple, fresh hazelnut and oyster shell, it is crystalline and nuanced, structured around mouthwatering acidity and concludes with a focused, chalky finish. It’s one of the more elegant versions of this cuvée, demonstrating subtle complexity, and I loved it! As always, it derives from a vineyard based on deep clay soil, where the resulting wines are more textural and less taut than those produced from Les Chétillons. 96 points, drink 2024-2044, Kristaps Karklins, The Wine Advocate.