Lush and seductive, the enchanting notes of ripe apple, white flowers and marzipan envelope the taster on the initial attack. The texture is impressively dense for a blanc de blancs without dosage. It is fermented half in tank and half in barrel, with the malolactic done. An effortless purity of fruit here makes one wish for more Chardonnay in the Aube, since it has performed exceptionally well in the 2013 vintage here.

From 20-year-old Chardonnay vines (sélection massale) on marly soils in a small, east-exposed, biodynamically farmed vineyard, the 2013 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Éloquence offers a clear, intense yet fine and subtle bouquet with precise fruit aromas and a deep, flinty/mineral background. On the palate, this is a fruit-intense but highly finessed and elegant Blanc de Blancs with a concentrated, aromatic finish and remarkable airiness. This is a beautifully pure and refined Chardonnay that was fermented partly in pièces and partly in enameled steel tanks. There is serious expression of terroir and citrus flavors here. Good aging potential. Disgorged in April 2017 and tasted exactly one year later.- SR