2008 Clos Lanson
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A bright yellow/silver color, the 2008 Champagne Clos Lanson comes from the site above the winery in Reims and is raised in oak barrels. A Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, it reveals a layered and very expressive nose with its toasty oak spice coming through, followed by still-youthful notes of Meyer lemon, toasted bread, white pepper, and crushed rocks. With a palate that’s powerful and packed with tension in a full-bodied frame, this is a truly different beast from Lanson. Warming and structured, with a pillowing mousse that’s really an afterthought, it has a much broader, more noble feel, with fantastic tension and freshness as well as a long, powerful finish. It is going to age very slowly over the coming decades.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
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A stunning wine from this spectacular vintage, the 2008 Champagne Blanc De Blancs Clos Lanson Brut is my favorite release of this cuvée to date. Elegant and refined, its beautiful aromatics lift from the glass, with notes of jasmine, crushed stones, fresh apple, and citrus blossoms. Focused without being austere, it takes on a fresh spine of acidity, its floral notes lasting through the palate, with a pinpoint mousse and a long, perfumed finish. Though it will last for decades, it’s already in a beautiful spot, offering well-balanced texture and finesse. Precise and refined, this is an exceptional offering from cellar master Hervé Dantan. There should be no rush to crack into these. Drink 2025-2045. 4 grams per liter dosage. Cellar master Hervé Dantan took over in 2013 and is the third generation in his family of winegrowers. In addition to working and studying in Champagne, Mr. Dantan also spent time in Burgundy and at Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma. Historically, the winery entirely blocked malolactic fermentation, but they’re no longer dogmatic about it, although they continue to strive for a crispy style. Since Hervé’s arrival, they have worked to create a vineyard team and are moving to becoming certified sustainable and using organic practices whenever possible. They work with 400 different partners in the vineyards. The vineyard La Clos de Lanson in Reims is the only urban clos in the region and is a single hectare planted to Chardonnay. It’s the only parcel that’s fermented in barrel, and the latest release is the 2007 vintage. The vintage bottlings are produced from Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites, with the prestige cuvées consisting entirely of Grand Cru. Structural developments include a barrel room built in 2015 and a new press house in Verzenay that opened last year. The press house is also the home of a new future clos currently of young vines facing the landmark windmill of the village. With this year’s releases, Dantan and the team are working to show more transparency in their labeling, beginning with the Black Label. Consumers will find that there is now a “Creation” number added to the label, with this year’s release called Creation 257, as it is the 257th release. For future releases, the numbers will move forward sequentially.
The 2008 Blanc de Blancs Clos Lanson extra brut reveals a delicate, minty bouquet with aromas of lemon oil, spring flowers, orchard fruit, spring flowers and pastry. Full-bodied, tense and straight with a chiseled texture, it’s energetic with an acid-driven finish—a classic Clos Lanson.
The 2008 Blanc de Blancs Clos Lanson extra brut reveals a delicate, minty bouquet with aromas of lemon oil, spring flowers, orchard fruit, spring flowers and pastry. Full-bodied, tense and straight with a chiseled texture, it’s energetic with an acid-driven finish—a classic Clos Lanson.