Vilmart Brut Grand Cellier d'Or 2011

The 2011 vintage of Vilmart’s Brut Grand Cellier d'Or is beautiful. Comprised of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, this wine opens to tiny, fine bubbles with notes of green apple, custard and nutty aromas like pralines and hazelnut. It is a complex Champagne that will age effortlessly like it previous vintage Brut bottlings. This is one of our favorite small grower, artisan Champagne producers. Founded in 1890 and still family owned, this winery can easily compete with the larger Champagne houses in quality and attention to detail. Even more so, it is great to promote the smaller houses that are still family-owned in the Champagne region.

Vilmart owns 11 hectares of vineyards in and around the village of Rilly. The vineyards are planted with 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Yields and working practises are strictly controlled. The terroir is composed of 35-year-old parcels, some are older than 50 years but they are exclusively used to produce the wine "Coeur de Cuvée.