NV Gaspard Brochet Lion Tome 2

Entirely sourced from the 2019 vintage and disgorged in January 2022 with a dosage of three grams per liter, the NV Blanc de Noirs Lion Tome III (2019) comes from a southeast-facing plot—Le Mont Benoit in Villers-aux-Nœuds—that was planted in 1985. This mid-slope vineyard features roughly 30 centimeters of silt before reaching chalk subsoil. The wine was vinified in 50% new 228-liter barrels and bursts from the glass with aromas of red apple, cherry, dried flowers, orange zest, spices and smoky nuances, patinated by its élevage in oak. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and expansive, with a vibrant core of fruit, bright acidity and a chalky, persistent finish. Produced without malolactic fermentation, it retains a tension that belies the solar nature of the vintage.