From: Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite, Champagne, France
Blend: 60% Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir
Critical Acclaim: A lavish Champagne, this is rich and toasty up front, with roasted hazelnut and brioche accents leading to flavors of baked black currant, lemon curd, and candied ginger. A backbone of firm acidity keeps this fresh, almost lip-smacking, while the creamy mousse carries the flavor range through the lingering finish. Drink now through 2023. 2,000 cases made, 250 cases imported. –AN, Wine Spectator, 92 points (11/30/2020)
A dense and creamy Champagne with lots of apple, lemon, and lemon-tart aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Flavorful and rich. Solid. Drink now. –James Suckling, 91 points (7/9/2019)
Disgorged after 36 months on the lees and with eight grams per liter dosage, the latest release of the NV Brut Reflets de Rivière offers up attractive aromas of dried white flowers, toasted nuts, fresh peach, and orchard fruit. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy, and expressive, it's lively and charming, complemented by a delicate low-pressure mousse. This Pinot Meunier-dominated blend is drawn from a solera established in 1980. –William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points (4/2020)
Taste: In the glass, delicate aromas of white fruit, such as pear and peach meet lemon curd, ginger, toasty brioche and hazelnut. The palate mirrors the vibrant nature of fresh citrus and toasty notes, accompanied by hints of roasted hazelnut, brioche, baked black currant, lemon curd, and candied ginger. This medium-bodied champagne finishes long and lovely, with lingering toasted notes.
Pairing: The NV Champagne Goutorbe-Bouillot Reflets de Riviere Brut is a versatile companion, effortlessly pairing with a variety of dishes. Its affinity for pork, shellfish, blue cheese, charcuterie, and short ribs makes it a culinary delight.
To celebrate the union of East and West, try pairing this bubbly with Dim Sum (check out the shu mai recipe below!). The vibrant acidity and sparkling bubbles provide an excellent contrast to the delicate and varied flavors found in these bite-sized Chinese treats.
Quiche, a beloved French dish that often features bacon, cheese, and leek, finds an excellent match in this Champagne. The richness and toasty notes in the wine play well with the creamy, savory egg-based tart.
For the more adventurous palate, Andouillette, a French sausage made from pork meat and intestines, paired with the NV Champagne Goutorbe-Bouillot Reflets de Riviere Brut makes for a decadent and unforgettable experience.
Whether you're an aficionado or a novice, the NV Champagne Goutorbe-Bouillot Reflets de Riviere Brut offers an indulgent journey into the heart of Champagne, France. Enjoy now through 2023 for the perfect play between freshness and maturity, and let the rich heritage of the Goutorbe-Bouillot house delight your senses.
Shrimp and Cilantro Shu Mai
By Mark Bittman
About. Unveiling the curtain to the world of sparkling brilliance, the NV Champagne Goutorbe-Bouillot Reflets de Riviere Brut introduces us to the magnificence of the Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite, Champagne, France. Here, tucked away in the quaint village of Damery, west of Epernay, the Goutorbe-Bouillot house, a small grower Champagne estate, weaves an intoxicating blend of tradition, innovation, and heartfelt passion.
The Goutorbe and Bouillot families have a storied lineage in winemaking, dating back to the early 18th century. This legacy was unified in the 1930s, following the marriage of Pierrette Bouillot and Jules Goutorbe. The estate, now under the helm of Dominique and Bastien, presents an enchanting blend of 60% Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Noir across its 8 hectares. This delicious concoction, a testament to their commitment to High Environmental Value (HVE) and VD sustainable agriculture, delicately dances between freshness and maturity.
Damery, characterized by south-facing slopes and a high prevalence of Pinot Meunier, is one of the largest villages in terms of vineyard size among the "autres crus". The village's strategic positioning on the north bank of the Marne river, coupled with its rich clay and limestone soil, bathed in southeast exposure, lends itself to cultivating exceptional grapes. Here, the Goutorbe-Bouillot's vineyards, almost a century old in some parcels, thrive under the highest European standard of sustainable agriculture, "viticulture durable".
Every year, Goutorbe-Bouillot employs a method akin to the Solera system, blending 50% of reserve wine, containing traces of all previous vintages since 1980. This practice, coupled with their firm stance against malolactic fermentation, is designed to maintain the grapes' natural acidity and aromas, crafting wines that are exuberantly fresh in their youth and wonderfully complex with aging.
Each bottle of NV Champagne Goutorbe-Bouillot Reflets de Riviere Brut undergoes a meticulous process. The non-vintage wine, spanning 30 vintages from 1980 to 2011, matures for 36 months on the lees before disgorgement, resulting in a dosage of 8 g/L.
