Benoit Marguet Avize & Cramant Grand Cru '16

The Avize & Cramant 2016 Grand Cru cuvée produced by Benoît Marguet is a champagne focused on freshness and minerality, celebrating the magnificent terroir of the Côte des Blancs.

This Blanc de Blancs is atypical in the Champagne Marguet range since it is not made with grapes from the house's vines, but with grapes selected by Benoît Marguet from a winegrower in the Côte des Blancs. In Avize, the grapes come from the "Les Chantereines" plot planted in 1982, and in Cramant, from the "Les Fouches du Levant" plot planted in 1971.

To maintain the natural fluidity, the work is done solely by gravity. This cuvée was vinified and aged in oak barrels, is not dosed to preserve the finesse and freshness characteristic of Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs and the use of sulfur is very limited (11 mg/L SO2).

The Avize & Cramant 2016 Grand Cru cuvée has a beautiful pale yellow color with slightly green reflections and its bubbles are incredibly fine.

The nose reveals citrus notes, followed by vanilla and slightly spicy aromas.

On the palate, the wine is tense but retains a nice creamy texture with a lovely lingering finish.

This Avize & Cramant 2016 Grand Cru cuvée is produced in a very confidential way with only 832 bottles.

Based in the grand cru village of Ambonnay, Benoit is fifth generation and one of the most exciting natural producers at the moment being certified organic and biodynamic. For example he is one of very few vineyards to plough only using 2 horses since 2010. He sources fruit from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Mailly and uses a very natural approach to fermentation using only wild yeasts. He is also sulphur free and uses small 225 litre oak barriques.

Sulphur Free, zero dosage as well as being Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly.

Fine foods. If you can, try it with Lobster in a bisque sauce or simpler still, some Tiger prawns and a homemade thousand island sauce.