he ninth time the Celebris has been produced in over 400 years, the 2012 Champagne Celebris is exceptional, with layered complexity in its aromas of quince, fresh apple blossoms, and pure honey without being oxidative...
he ninth time the Celebris has been produced in over 400 years, the 2012 Champagne Celebris is exceptional, with layered complexity in its aromas of quince, fresh apple blossoms, and pure honey without being oxidative. Medium to full-bodied, it is gorgeous through the palate, with a supple, stony texture, pure with chalk, and an even spine of fresh acidity through the long finish. It’s another exceptional wine in the range to enjoy over the coming three decades.<!--more-->The oldest wine house in Champagne, established by Pierre Gosset in 1584 in Ay, Gosset was purchased by Reynaud-Cointreau in 1993. Today the chef de cave is Odilon de Varine, formerly of Deutz and Henriot, and the philosophy is to adapt to each year and not to get stuck in the past. Each of the growers’ plots are fermented separately and malolactic fermentation is entirely blocked, working with the lees to create roundness in the wines instead. The house has gradually shifted from being predominantly a Pinot Noir house to that of Chardonnay. Total annual production is approximately 1 million bottles, although they have the capacity to produce 1.5 million. They hold a considerable stock of reserve wine going back 60 years, alleviating the pressures to put out more quantity. This year marks the first release ever for the Celebris Blanc de Blancs.