Champagne Brut Nature 'Almanach n°0' Gratiot & Cie

Gratiot's Brut Nature "Almanach n°0" is a generous Champagne, telling of the elegance of Pinot Meunier, a predominant varietal in the final cut. The nose offers hints of brioche and almond paste, thus recalling the long period of aging, a prelude to a firm but always elegant sip in its unfolding thanks to a creamy and round profile. A versatile bottle, excellent for aperitifs but perfectly capable of accompanying an entire meal when the courses are based on fish, shellfish and crustaceans.

Gratiot's "Almanach No. 0" is a Brut Nature Champagne that comes from the union of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, the latter present in the final cuvée at 23 percent. The two varieties grow in the Saulchery plots on south-facing clay, limestone and loamy soils. The must obtained from pressing the berries ferments in steel and oak barrels - only 4 percent of the total mass - while also partially carrying out malolactic fermentation. The refermentation then takes place, as per the principles dictated for making Champenoise Method, in the bottle. The Champagne remains to age on the lees for 6 years, a period at the end of which it is disgorged and re-bottled without any liqueur d'expédition being added.

This Champagne Brut Nature "Almanach n°0" made by the Maison Gratiot announces itself to the eye with a typically golden color, with a few streaks of straw yellow hues. The grain of the bubbles is fine, and the effervescence is characterized by a good duration. The nose is a nice mix of more varietal notes, in which yellow-fleshed fruit is found, and olfactory sensations from the time spent on the lees, which come through with touches of pastry and bread crust. In the mouth it is full-bodied, with a creamy froth that punctually wraps the palate and a sip in which freshness and savoriness are well balanced; it closes with a lingering finish. A label that is not dosed at the end of the production process, and that fascinates with its gustatory purity.