The 2010 Vilmart et Cie Grand Cellier d'Or 1er Cru is a Champagne blend from the esteemed region of Champagne, France. This vintage, crafted by Vilmart et Cie, comprises 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir sourced from a single plot of 45-year-old vines in Rilly la Montagne. The wine, notable for its elegant white color, is sealed with a cork and has an alcohol content of 12.5%.
Wine Spectator awarded this Champagne an impressive 94 points, highlighting its "almost plush" texture and finesse. The review notes the wine’s "mouthwatering acidity" that brightens the layers of poached pear, baked plum, mandarin orange peel, and pickled ginger, with accents of toasted walnut and spun honey. The finish is described as fresh and focused, making it a standout 2010 vintage. According to the magazine, the wine was disgorged in July 2014 and is expected to be enjoyable until 2030, with only 120 cases imported.
John Gilman from View From The Cellar gives the wine a commendable 93 points, emphasizing its blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He remarks on the absence of malolactic fermentation and the wine’s aging process, which includes ten months in oak casks. The wine spent three years on the lees before disgorgement, contributing to its complexity. Gilman describes the nose as a fine mix of apple, pear, acacia blossom, chalky minerality, brioche, and vanillin oak. He notes the wine’s full-bodied, crisp palate, with a refined mousse and a zesty finish. Although the wine can be enjoyed now, Gilman suggests it will benefit from additional aging to fully integrate its oak influence.
In summary, the 2010 Vilmart et Cie Grand Cellier d'Or 1er Cru is a sophisticated Champagne with a promising aging potential, praised for its complexity and finesse.