NV Avize 16 40

The NV Champagne Grand Cru Avize Blanc De Blancs 16 40 Extra Brut is coded to reveal the contents of each cuvée from Valentin Leflaive. In this release, it’s based on the 2016 vintage, with the addition of 4.0 grams per liter dosage. It pours a bright yellow/straw hue and offers a wonderful, layered nose with refined aromas of lemon curd, toasted brioche, poached pear, and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a weightless feel on the palate, with an elegant pillowing mousse and even acidity, its mineral underpinnings framing the wine beautifully. This beautiful offering was my first encounter with this producer, and I look forward to trying more of what they have to offer. This release is highly pleasurable now, although it should hold on nicely over the coming 10-12 years.