The Champagne Society October 2020 Selection: Champagne Lancelot Pienne

Champagne Lancelot Pienne “Instant Présent” Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
Price for The Champagne Society members: $59

“Gilles Lancelot produces lean, light, bright and crisp, spring-like Champagnes of remarkable purity and freshness. The style…is perfectly dry, pure, very refined, straight and mineral. These are elegant, and rather lean and filigreed rather than big, mouth-filling Champagnes.”

— Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate

Based in Cramant, Gilles Lancelot comes from a long line of growers. He farms 22 acres of vines spread over 55 parcels along the northern sector of the Côte des Blancs, the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay, and into the Marne Valley. The average age of his vines are 40 years old with the oldest over 60 years.

Gilles farms his vines sustainably, with careful monitoring of his multiple parcels. Fermentation is done only in steel or glass-lined concrete vats in order to have the clearest expression of the wines and dosage is minimal.

A member of Les Artisans du Champagne — one of the more elite of the bands of growers in Champagne — Gilles’ annual production averages less than 6,000 cases, allowing him exacting control to produce the best possible Champagne. The proof is in a bottle of “Instant Présent.” 100% Chardonnay from vines averaging 40 years of age growing along the Côte des Blancs as well as from Monthelon and Mancy, two villages south of Epernay in the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay. The wine is aged on its lees for 30 months before disgorgement and has a dosage 7 grams. It is ideal as an apéritif: fresh, lifted, chalky, and full of white and yellow orchard fruits.

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Posted on 2020.09.21 in France, The Champagne Society, Champagne