Delicious grower fizz: Champagne Lancelot-Pienne Cuvée Perceval 2006

Imported by Eurocentric Wine, a mere 800 bottles of this are produced each year (which means its not easy to get hold of some – try Nev at Eurocentric directly).

A 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Pinot from the Marne Valley and the Chardonnay from Cramant, with the wine made in concrete/stainless tanks where it complete malolactic fermentation and was then kept on lees for an extended period before secondary ferment.

I actually picked this as a blanc de blancs at first, largely due to the rather floral, white flower prettiness on the nose. That’s not a bad thing, as it just emphasises the quality of the Chardonnay fruit. There’s some gherkin, meringue and sherbet in their too, just to fill things out a bit. Initially quite delicate to taste, the pure and chalky palate very clean and effortlessly laid out, the Pinot giving late drive to finish.

A delightfully delicate Champagne, the emphasis here is on purity over any autolytic fullness, the sheer beauty of the base wine making this adelight to drink. Maybe not quite the rambunctious power of some other grower Champagne, but so keen and vibrant that you can’t help but love it – a quite feminine wine (and all the better for it).

Delicious.

Source: Retail
Tasted Drunk: April 2014
Score: 18.5/20, 94/100
Would I buy it? Absolutely.