From: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
Varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Taste: In the glass, the wine shows a pale golden hue with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose opens with lemon zest, crisp pear, and white peach, layered with hints of toasted almond, white flowers, and fresh brioche. On the palate, it is bright and structured, with Chardonnay’s mineral edge leading into ripe citrus, orchard fruit, and a subtle creaminess.
Critical Acclaim: “Floral nose, with a hint of soft spice and nectarine; palate is dry but not austere, with stone fruit and a fine mineral tension. Cerebral, satisfying and impressively wrought.” 93 Points, Decanter
“Based in the Chardonnay region of the Côte des Blancs, it's no surprise that this producer has a dominance of that grape in its blend. The wine has great minerality as well as tight acidity and delicious citrus flavors. It's a dry, finely balanced wine to drink now.” 92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
“Clean and fragrant with red fruit, this wine’s tart cherry and strawberry flavors integrate with the soil character, which acts as a scrim over the fruit. It feels lush within the tight confines of its structure. Built for food, this will accompany roast game birds.” 91 Points, Wine & Spirits
“Crisp and minerally, with smoke and chalk accents underscoring the rich notes of lemon curd, glazed apricot and spring blossom, this chiseled Champagne is elegant and well-knit. Drink now through 2022.” 91 Points, Wine Spectator
“An expressive nose combines a variety of citrus elements along with lovely brioche and yeast scents. There is excellent punch to the delicious, complex and nicely voluminous flavors that are underpinned by a moderately firm mousse before terminating in a balanced and attractively dry finale. This is really quite good for a basic house brut and worth a look.” 91 Points, Burghound.com
“Quite impressive richness and gently toasty aromas on the nose here with almond, savory and sweet, bready autolysis notes. The palate has a fresh, succulent and smooth feel with soft, citrusy fruit flesh. Holds long. Drink now.” 91 Points, James Suckling
Pairing: This Brut is a versatile Champagne that performs well with dishes that are clean, lightly textured, or carry a subtle savory or briny edge. Its structure and freshness make it an excellent fit for raw or lightly cooked seafood, such as oysters, fluke crudo, or scallop tartare. The fine mousse and citrus-driven profile complement dishes like poached white fish with lemon and herbs, or shrimp with yuzu kosho and olive oil.
About: Champagne Delamotte is headquartered in the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, located in the Côte des Blancs, a subregion known for producing some of the most precise and age-worthy Chardonnay in all of Champagne. Established in 1760, Delamotte is one of the oldest houses in the region, with a history that has long been intertwined with the legacy of its more widely recognized sibling house, Salon. Although smaller in scale, Delamotte has carved out its own identity by emphasizing terroir-specific, Chardonnay-driven wines that speak of their origins in this prestigious Grand Cru village.
