The Blanc de Blancs Specialists
Join us for Arnaud Gimonnet’s first visit to WA, as he takes us through 9 Pierre Gimonnet Champagnes!
Hosted by family member Arnaud Gimonnet
Tasting: 5:30-7pm, 9 Champagnes with Nibbles, $95
Dinner: 7.30pm, 9 Champagnes & 4 Courses Menu, $185
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About Pierre Gimonnet et Fils:
The brothers Didier and Olivier Gimonnet, chef de cave and vigneron respectively, today represent the beacons of this prestigious Champagne reality, recognized, already with their grandfather Pierre, as one of the best-known names of the Cote de Blancs.
A bastion that is first and foremost historical, since the family has been cultivating vines in this area since 1750, but also qualitative, given the prestigious microclimatic characteristics of the land they are lucky enough to inhabit. Initially they limited themselves to selling the grapes they grew, starting from 1935 they became Récoltant Manipulant and, in 1955, they presented the first "Maison" line on the market. A compelling story characterized by one and only fixed point: at Gimonnet home it is the terroir that makes the difference .
The Wine List & Menu
1st Course
Cuis 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV, Our Price $99
"n these days of sharply rising prices, this family-run house offers great value thanks to its magnificent chardonnay vineyards. This is Gimmonet's entry-point wine, the bouquet of white flowers/apple blossom, the palate with elegance and balance, fruit finish fresh thanks to the modest dosage of 5.5g/l.
94 points, James Halliday, Wine Companion
Cuvée Fleuron 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 2017, Our Price $140
A stunningly vibrant Blanc de Blancs that could easily pass as Extra Brut. Excellent interplay of lemon freshness, creaminess and racy acidity on the elegant palate. The long and expressive finish makes me think of waves crashing over a rocky shoreline! A cuvee based on wines from the Grand Cru villages of Chouilly (44%), Cramant (24%) and Oger (5%), but because base wines from the 1er Cru villages are present – Cuis (21%) and Vertus (6%) – it only qualifies for the 1er Cru designation.
94 Points James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Salmon carpaccio, rye crumb, dill, lime
2nd Course
Rosé de Blancs 1er Cru Brut NV, Our Price $120
Gimonnet’s cracking and cleverly named rosé is just 8% Bouzy red wine (not least because it costs him almost €15 a litre to buy!) blended with his vintage Gastronome cuvée – his blanc de blancs with the most body and power to handle the pinot. ‘The aspiration is to elaborate a very refreshing rosé that upholds the identity of Gimonnet and of the Côte des Blancs,’ Didier Gimonnet explains. Its popularity has taken him by surprise. ‘I thought a blanc de blancs specialist like me would not sell more than 5% rosé, but this cuvée is now 7–8% of my sales, and Gastronome has halved in production accordingly.’ Charged with more than 50% grand cru chardonnay, the result upholds its mantra of sustaining the mouthfeel, persistence and surging bath-salts chalk minerality of the Côte des Blancs with great accomplishment, this year touched with a pale salmon-pink hue and the lightest reflections of white cherries, lemons, ruby grapefruit, red apples and strawberry hull. Delightfully restrained and refreshingly tense, it’s more about crystalline precision and vibrant drive than flavour. One of the most refreshing apéritif rosés this year, serve it like a delicate blanc de blancs, not like a rosé. One bottle showed a subtle lack of freshness, lending a savoury tomato hint. (2020-2021)"
93 points, Tyson Stelzer, Champagne Guide
White chicken, Puy lentils, Comte
3rd Course
Cuis 1er Cru Special Club 2018, Our Price $184
The first ever Cuis Special Club (from any brand) is the essence of this elegant cru, like only Gimonnet could conceive. A bright, pale straw hue preempts a wonderful assemblage of bright white fruits of lemon and perfect white peach, backed with a presence, stature and confidence inherited from its vintage. The chalk minerality of the village is pronounced, super fine and glassy, with gentle salinity, not nearly as bracing or as strong as neighbouring Cramant, but setting an effortless elegance and grace all of its own. The ultimate Special Club apéritif and a delightful wine.
95 Points, Tyson Stelzer, Champagne Guide
Special Club 'Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay' 2015, Our Price $183
Very complex nose of citrus blossoms, floral honey and brioche with a hint of fresh mushroom. Really concentrated, but so incredibly focused and precise, this is a masterpiece of chardonnay elegance! Very long and extremely mineral finish that lights up the sky like fireworks. A cuvée of wines from the Grand Cru villages of Cramant (60%) and Chouilly (26%) with wine from the 1er Cru village of Cuis (14%), the oldest vines dating back to 1911 and 1913.
96 Points James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Spécial Club Millésime de Collection Vieilles Vignes
de Chardonnay 2009 (Magnum), Our Price $424
I love the way Gimonnet is able to uphold purity and freshness even in the warm vintages, a feat not all growers and houses have been able to maintain in recent seasons. In magnum this is a wonderful blanc de blancs of pure grapefruit, apple, beurre bosc pear and the gentle beginnings of maturity in brioche and vanilla cream. The chalk minerality of the northern Côte des Blancs furnishes fantastic texture and drive.
96 Points, Tyson Stelzer, Champagne Guide
Crayfish, crushed filo, tarragon buerre blanc
4th Course
Chouilly Grand Cru Special Club 2015, Our Price $209
A super-elegant and very graceful champagne that you sink into like a huge, velvet sofa. The ravishing orange-blossom aromas make this really hard to resist! Very suave and silky finish. From vines planted in 1951 and 1991.
95 Points James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Oger Grand Cru Special Club 2015, Our Price $209
Tightly wound and intensely mineral, this is a very serious and concentrated vintage champagne that just needs a bit more time in the bottle for the still discreet citrus notes to unfold. However, there are already so many layers of flavor on the tightly focused palate and at the long, very exciting finish.
95 Points James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Cramant Grand Cru Special Club 2015, Our Price $219
Very deep and concentrated with fantastic mineral freshness lifting the substantial body, this is a sparkling chardonnay masterpiece. Great candied-citrus and chalky complexity at the expansive finish, yet this remains so pure and straight. From vines planted in 1911 and 1982.
96 Points James Suckling, jamessuckling.com