Mailly Exception Blanche 2016 - Champagne Blanc de Blancs
Mailly
Description
If we had to sum up the 2016 vintage it would be: frost, hail, rain and disease. Without a very fine September, the harvest would have been catastrophic. It remains a year with very heterogeneous quality; schematically we can say that the Pinot Meunier of Vallée de la Marne and the Pinot Noir of Montagne de Reims fared rather well, wines more on power than finesse. As for the Chardonnay, it was harvested late, after the reds (an exceptional event). Only grapes harvested on terroirs classified as Grand Cru can lay claim to a great vintage, and even more so in Côte des blancs, where the strong minerality produced a harvest of very high quality. The Exception Blanche cuvée from Maison Mailly is an unprecedented cuvée. Exceptional in 2 ways: this is a Blanc de blancs, whereas the cuvées of Mailly are built on Pinot Noir on the one hand, and on the other, the cooperative has exceptionally "imported" Chardonnay Grand Cru from Côte des blancs, which is blended in equal parts (50/50) with Chardonnay from the finest parcels of Mailly. La robe reveals a straw yellow color with sparkling golden highlights, enlivened by a string of fine, abundant bubbles. The nose opens with soft notes of lime blossom, white peach and melon, followed by richer aromas of nectarine, candied citrus, brioche and hazelnut, as well as more dynamic notes of bergamot and ginger. The finish is underscored by chalky, saline and lemony notes, making it long and intense. This Exception Blanche 2016 cuvée from Mailly, a subtle harmony between minerality and roundness, will pair perfectly with Marennes Oléron oysters for that "little side" of hazelnut, or at the opposite end of the spectrum with a simple apricot tart.