Champagne Philippe Glavier Blanc de Blancs Cramant Emotion Brut Grand Cru 2014

Philippe and Véronique Glavier have managed this small estate in the Grand Cru village of Cramant since 1995. Set in the Côte des Blancs, Philippe and Véronique both hail from winegrowing families, with Véronique standing as the 12th generation of her family from the nearby village of Monthelon. Philippe is the third-generation vigneron, who inherited a small domaine that now serves as their base. Over the years, they’ve built their holdings to a total of 4.5 hectares – with 49 different plots in Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil. Each plot is farmed and vinified separately, granting the pair a nearly limitless possibility of chardonnay combinations for blending. With most of their plots located here in Cramant, it is only natural that they can create their signature expression of their land from these exceptional plots. This 100% chardonnay, entirely from the Cramant Grand Cru is toasty and rich, with a decidedly orange bouquet – supremes, fresh-squeezed juice, and zest, followed by hazelnuts, and fresh from-the-oven sourdough boules. The plush lusciousness of the wine is grounded by this pervasive river rock minerality, before resuming more fruity flavors of lemon meringue, pomelo, and golden apples. A final flourish of peppery arugula gives a resounding brightness that carries this onwards impressively and provides a cleansing and fresh sensation that wraps this all up brilliantly. The extra long aging of over 79 months on the lees gives this nuance, yet does nothing to diminish the overall verve and electricity offered here. A subtle 4 grams per liter dosage in February of 2022 has justly amplified the fruit and seemingly honed the laser-cut edges of this powerful wine. A full two years on the cork has made this approachable and integrated now, but easily a decade-plus of continued development, and further beauty, awaits those with the patience to do so! I’m really going to try to hold at least one of these for that long… but my, is it ever delicious here and now!