Vilnius

Klaipėda

  • Robert Parker

    92 / 100

Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Brut Fleur de Passion 2002

Sparkling dry

Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Brut Fleur de Passion 2002

407,00

Description

For collectors and connoisseurs, the Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Brut Fleur de Passion 2002 represents a rare and profound expression of Cramant's finest “Chardonnay”.

This extraordinary vintage Champagne initially smells fresh and elegant, with soft floral notes. As it opens up, you'll find hints of oak, green apple, lemon, and a touch of baked bread. When tasted, the wine starts crisp and focused, then becomes smoother. It offers flavors of white peach, minerals, and a long, salty finish with touches of almond and honey.

The Cuvée Fleur de Passion 2002 is the jewel in the crown of Diebolt-Vallois, crafted exclusively from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced from their old vines in the illustrious Grand Cru village of Cramant. This exceptional creation, made only in years deemed outstanding like 2002, echoes rigorous traditional know-how. The base wines were fermented and aged in oak barrels, but malolactic conversion was meticulously avoided to preserve the wine's crisp purity.

Filtration and fining were also forgone, allowing the unique terroir to express itself fully. The dosage for this vintage is 3 (g/l) further accentuating its pristine character.

Serving recommendations

Serve 8-10 °C  with oysters, grilled shellfish or fish carpaccio.

Rating

92 / 100

Robert Parker

The 2002 Brut Blanc de Blancs Fleur de Passion is initially a rather tightly-wound, angular wine. With some time in the glass, this Champagne becomes a little more generous, yet it remains focused in its expression of white peaches, flowers and minerals. The finish is long, sweet and ultimately quite seductive, even if this isn’t an especially accessible wine at this stage. The Fleur de Passion is made from the estate’s oldest vines in Cramant and aged in barrel.

About brand

Located in one of the most famous villages of Champagne – Cramant – Jacques Diebolt and Nadia Vallois, together with their children Arnaud and Isabelle, run the small but highly respected Champagne house Diebolt-Vallois.

The majority of the family's 11 hectares of vineyards boast Grand Cru and Premier Cru status. The ‘Chardonnay’ grape, unofficially titled the queen of the Côte des Blancs, reigns supreme in these prestigious lands. Until 1992, this relatively unknown producer suddenly found itself in the spotlight of wine enthusiasts when “Gault Millau,” one of France's most influential restaurant and wine guides, nominated Diebolt-Vallois as Champagne Producer of the Year. Despite this sudden recognition and attention, Diebolt-Vallois has remained a family-run winery, driven by exceptionally warm and friendly people. It is a genuine pleasure for "Vyno Klubas" (Wine Club) to introduce this excellent producer to Lithuanian wine lovers.

Wine Style

Diebolt-Vallois Champagnes are characterized by exceptional elegance, subtlety, and minerality, reflecting the terroir of top-tier Côte des Blancs ‘Chardonnay’. Great emphasis is placed on freshness, complexity, and longevity.

  • Blanc de Blancs (100% ‘Chardonnay’) is the house's flagship style, renowned for its clean aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers, along with mineral notes. Extended aging on lees imparts complexity and elegance to the Champagnes.
  • While the winery also produces Brut and Rosé Champagnes, “Blanc de Blancs” remains their calling card.

Prestigious Vineyards

The majority of Diebolt-Vallois's vineyards are located in prestigious Grand Cru villages:

  • Cramant Grand Cru is one of the most famous villages of the Côte des Blancs, renowned for its elegant and mineral-driven ‘Chardonnay’.
  • Chouilly Grand Cru is also highly regarded for its high-quality ‘Chardonnay’, lending softness and complexity to the Champagnes.
  • Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru is considered one of the finest terroirs of the Côte des Blancs, and its ‘Chardonnay’ is characterized by exceptional minerality and aging potential.
  • The winery also owns vineyards in the Premier Cru village of Cuis.

The yields from these top-tier vineyards, combined with meticulous work in the cellar, result in the exceptional quality of Diebolt-Vallois Champagnes.

Aging and Drinking Period

Diebolt-Vallois Champagnes are aged for an extended period on their lees, often significantly longer than the appellation rules require. This imparts greater complexity, finer bubbles, and a longer finish. While these Champagnes can be enjoyed in their youth, the top-tier “Blanc de Blancs” have excellent potential to age and evolve for many years, gaining even more elegance and complexity.

Champagne Diebolt-Vallois

Champagne Diebolt-Vallois

France All brand products

You might also like