Penet Chardonnet Les Fervins 2010, Grand Cru

Extra Brut (Dosage 4.8g/liter) - Grand Cru

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750ml

"Les Fervins" is a magnificent site, or "lieu-dit," in Verzy. Ideally situated on a 15% southeast-facing slope on calcareous soil, the Penet family owns a special plot planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, bearing their family cross—now the Penet Chardonnay logo. The Champagne produced exclusively from this plot contains both grapes, a unique feature for a vineyard in Champagne. This rare cuvée, one of the few Grand Cru Champagnes produced from a single plot, is the legacy of the Penet family's tireless search for the "holy grail" of the Verzy and Verzenay terroirs.

This champagne is characterized by aromatic finesse and exceptional balance. The nose reveals aromas of ripe fruit, plum, peach, apricot, and pineapple; sweet aromas of dark honey, yeast, and cherry croissants; hints of roasted nuts, walnut, and hazelnut; undergrowth and spicy notes. The palate is refined and elegant, with the ripe fruit balanced by a delicate freshness and chalky minerality, with a long and particularly spicy finish that reflects the chalky soil from which it comes. A champagne with a strong personality, combining the character of the terroir, the purity of Pinot Noir, and the elegance of the magnificent Chardonnay de Verzy.

Fermentation took place in both oak barrels and steel tanks without malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and fruitiness. The 2,800 bottles produced then spent over 11 years on the lees. Drinkable from now until 2040.

Awards:

Robert Parker 93 points

Guide Hachette 2 Stars

La Revue du Vin de France, 92/100

Jancis Robinson, UK, 17.5/20

Bettane & Desseauve, France – 17.5/20