Area under vines: 60 hectares
Soils: Clay
Production : 500 000 bottles a year
Winemaker: Michel Fauconnet
Wines Vineyard Holdings:
Vintage follows on from the highly successful 2008. Next vintage will be 2014 to be released end of 2021. Six grands crus: Oger, Le Mesnil, Avize, Cramant, Oiry and Chouilly (the last two newish and included only from 2008 but apparently this did not increase volume of production). This blend was Didier Depond’s dream. Alain (ex chef de cave) said Chouilly grapes not perfect for Delamotte. Perhaps the only house to blend all six of these Cote des Blancs grands crus. Aged seven years on lees. Didier says it can age for ages. And recommends with chicken as well as fish. Dosage 5 g/l. Quite deep greenish gold. Tight bead. Relatively rich, mature nose. Again, as with the NV Blanc de Blancs, the dosage is perceptible – not sickly but this champagne is definitely sweeter than many I taste today. Friendly, delicately textured champagne. Not desperately persistent. But a very satisfactory food partner with sashimi. Nice spine.
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2026
Delamotte s 2012 Brut Vintage is rich, creamy and super-expressive. This is only the second vintage (the first was 2008) in which fruit from Oiry rounds out the classic core of Le Mesnil, Oger and Cramant that forms the backbone of the Vintage. Dried pear, white flowers, chamomile and mint are some of the notes that grace this exquisite understated Blanc de Blancs. The 2012 offers terrific depth and textural resonance in a creamy, expressive style that captures the radiant personality of the year and the understated, quiet voice that is such a Delamotte signature.
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2037
