Double gold and 91/100: our Blanc de Noirs 2016 recognised by Gilbert & Gaillard

Gilbert & Gaillard is one of the most respected wine guides in the world. Each year, their panels taste blind through thousands of wines. The Double Gold distinction is reserved for wines that achieve unanimous approval across the jury. Not a popularity contest. A technical verdict, with nowhere to hide.

Our Blanc de Noirs 2016 was awarded 91 points out of 100 and the Double Gold medal at the 2023 tasting.

What the jury wrote

Brilliant golden robe, very fine bubbles. Generous nose combining stone fruits, spiced and brioche notes, dried fruits. A broad, suave palate revealing saline and iodine notes, very harmonious. A vinous style of fine character. A wine for the table.

What Blanc de Noirs means

A Blanc de Noirs is a champagne made exclusively from black grapes, primarily Pinot Noir, but with white juice. This is possible because the colour of the grape sits in the skin, not the pulp. Press gently and quickly, with no skin contact, and the juice runs clear.

The result is a champagne that carries the structure and depth of black grapes with the precision and clarity of a white. One of the most demanding styles to produce well.

Why the 2016 vintage

2016 required patience in Champagne. After a difficult spring, summer recovered well and delivered outstanding ripeness late in the season. Wines from 2016 carry a natural tension that gives them length on the palate and real aging potential.

Our Blanc de Noirs 2016 spent several years on lees in our cellar in Brasles before disgorgement. What's in the glass is as much time as it is terroir.