Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier NV – Premier Cru Champagne

94 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR! 93 POINTS DECANTER! 70% CHARDONNAY! PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS! 10 MONTHS IN OAK! THE EXTRAORDINARY VILMART & CIE GRAND CELLIER – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST EXCITING GROWER WINES FOR JUST $190!

94 Points – Wine Spectator | 93 Points – Decanter

Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier Brut NV – Champagne, France

RRP $190 per bottle

NOW THIS IS CHAMPAGNE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE SERIOUSLY GREAT WINE!

There are Champagnes made to be light, fresh and uncomplicated.

There are Champagnes made by enormous houses producing millions of bottles.

And then there are Champagnes that demonstrate exactly why the finest grower producers have developed such an extraordinary following among serious wine lovers.

VILMART & CIE GRAND CELLIER IS FIRMLY IN THAT FINAL CATEGORY!

From the Premier Cru village of Rilly-la-Montagne comes one of Champagne's most distinctive and beautifully crafted wines.

A Champagne that combines the precision of Chardonnay with the richness of Pinot Noir.

But here's where things become particularly exciting.

70% CHARDONNAY!

30% PINOT NOIR!

PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS!

10 MONTHS IN LARGE OAK CASKS!

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

And a beautifully balanced palate that combines extraordinary texture with vibrant freshness.

Think fresh mandarin.

Lemon zest.

Ripe pear.

White flowers.

Toasted brioche.

Delicate spice.

And an extraordinary mineral finish.

All wrapped together in a Champagne with wonderfully fine bubbles, beautiful concentration and remarkable length.

94 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR!

93 POINTS DECANTER!

TEN MONTHS IN OAK!

JUST $190 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves the combination of Chardonnay, thoughtful oak maturation and magnificent mineral precision, this is a Champagne that deserves serious attention.

Vilmart & Cie – One of Champagne's Great Grower Houses

The story of Vilmart & Cie begins in 1890.

Founded in the village of Rilly-la-Montagne, this historic family-owned estate has developed a reputation for producing some of Champagne's most distinctive wines.

The house has been shaped by generations of the Champs family.

Laurent Champs played a major role in establishing Vilmart's modern reputation, while Thomas Champs now contributes to the next generation of the estate's winemaking.

What makes Vilmart so special is its approach.

Rather than relying exclusively on stainless steel to preserve fruit freshness, the estate uses large oak casks as an important part of its winemaking.

But these are not Champagnes dominated by obvious oak flavours.

The goal is something far more sophisticated.

TEXTURE!

DEPTH!

COMPLEXITY!

AND EXTRAORDINARY ELEGANCE!

Vilmart has become a benchmark for lovers of beautifully textured, oak-matured Champagne.

And Grand Cellier is a magnificent introduction to the house's style.

Rilly-la-Montagne Premier Cru – An Extraordinary Terroir

Now here's where this Champagne becomes particularly fascinating.

RILLY-LA-MONTAGNE PREMIER CRU!

Located in the Montagne de Reims, Rilly-la-Montagne is one of Champagne's most respected villages.

The vineyards benefit from chalk-rich soils and a climate that allows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to develop excellent flavour while retaining freshness.

The chalk contributes mineral precision.

The vineyard exposures help achieve beautiful ripeness.

And the combination produces wines with remarkable balance.

Chardonnay brings freshness.

Citrus.

White flowers.

And mineral tension.

Pinot Noir contributes structure.

Depth.

And a wonderfully generous palate.

PREMIER CRU TERROIR – WITH THE COMPLEXITY AND FINESSE OF A GREAT GROWER CHAMPAGNE!

70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir – The Perfect Balance

One of the most important details about Grand Cellier is the blend.

70% CHARDONNAY!

30% PINOT NOIR!

This is a particularly exciting combination.

Chardonnay forms the backbone of the wine.

It provides elegance.

Fresh citrus.

Vibrant acidity.

And beautifully defined mineral character.

Pinot Noir contributes richness.

Texture.

And additional depth.

Together, they create a Champagne that is both generous and precise.

Rich yet wonderfully fresh.

Complex yet beautifully balanced.

THE FINESSE OF CHARDONNAY WITH THE STRUCTURE OF PINOT NOIR!

Ten Months in Oak – The Secret to the Extraordinary Texture

Now here's one of the most fascinating aspects of Vilmart Grand Cellier.

TEN MONTHS IN LARGE OAK CASKS!

Unlike many Champagnes whose base wines are fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel, Vilmart uses large oak casks.

These vessels allow the wine to develop additional texture and complexity.

But because they are large, they do not necessarily impart the same overt oak character associated with small new barrels.

The aim is integration.

Subtlety.

And balance.

The oak contributes to the wine's beautifully rounded texture.

Its depth.

And its ability to develop savoury complexity.

Think toasted brioche.

Delicate spice.

And subtle nutty characters.

But the fruit remains beautifully expressive.

THE TEXTURE OF GREAT WHITE BURGUNDY – WITH THE ELEGANCE AND FINE BUBBLES OF CHAMPAGNE!

No Malolactic Fermentation – Extraordinary Freshness

Another important detail is the winemaking philosophy.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

Malolactic fermentation is a process that converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid.

Many Champagne producers use it to soften the palate.

But Vilmart deliberately avoids this process.

Why?

Because the estate wants to preserve the natural freshness and precision of its fruit.

The result is remarkable.

Vibrant acidity.

Beautiful tension.

And an exceptionally long mineral finish.

But here's what makes the wine particularly impressive.

Despite retaining that freshness, Grand Cellier is not thin or austere.

The quality of the fruit and the oak maturation provide wonderful richness and texture.

RICH AND CREAMY – YET VIBRANT, FRESH AND BEAUTIFULLY PRECISE!

Reserve Wines – Additional Depth and Complexity

Another important part of Grand Cellier is the use of reserve wines.

The estate blends the current harvest with wines retained from previous years.

These older wines contribute additional complexity.

Texture.

And maturity.

The documented 2022-base release incorporates reserve wines from 2020 and 2021.

This combination allows the estate to balance youthful fruit with more developed characters.

Fresh citrus meets delicate brioche.

White flowers meet subtle spice.

And the wine develops a beautifully layered palate.

THE FRESHNESS OF A GREAT HARVEST WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF MATURE RESERVE WINES!

Traditional Bottle Fermentation – The Art of Great Champagne

After the base wines are prepared and blended, Grand Cellier undergoes its second fermentation in bottle.

This is the traditional Champagne method.

The process creates the fine bubbles that distinguish Champagne from other sparkling wines.

The Champagne then spends time ageing on its lees.

During this maturation, the wine develops additional complexity.

The mousse becomes finer.

The palate becomes more integrated.

And subtle savoury characters emerge.

Freshly baked bread.

Toasted brioche.

And delicate pastry.

Combined with the oak-matured base wine, the result is wonderfully textured and complex.

TRADITIONAL CHAMPAGNE CRAFTSMANSHIP – WITH THE DISTINCTIVE VILMART TOUCH!

A Beautifully Balanced Brut Champagne

Despite the richness of Grand Cellier, the wine retains wonderful freshness.

The documented 2022-base release has a dosage of 8 grams per litre.

That is comfortably within the Brut category.

The dosage complements the wine's vibrant acidity and generous fruit without making it taste overtly sweet.

The result is beautifully harmonious.

Richness.

Freshness.

Texture.

And a long, mineral finish.

A MAGNIFICENT BALANCE BETWEEN GENEROSITY AND PRECISION!

94 Points – Wine Spectator

93 Points – Decanter

A magnificent example of how Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can combine to create a Champagne of extraordinary elegance.

A wonderful endorsement of the wine's precision and ageing potential.

Mandarin, White Flowers, Brioche and Extraordinary Mineral Length

Now this is where Vilmart Grand Cellier really comes into its own.

In the glass, it displays a beautiful golden-yellow colour.

The bubbles are fine and persistent.

And the aromas are wonderfully expressive.

Fresh mandarin.

Lemon zest.

Ripe pear.

And delicate white flowers.

Then come the more complex characters.

Toasted brioche.

Fresh pastry.

Subtle spice.

And gentle notes of exotic wood.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced.

There is wonderful Chardonnay freshness.

The Pinot Noir provides additional depth and structure.

And the oak maturation contributes a creamy, beautifully integrated texture.

But the finish is what really distinguishes the wine.

Long.

Mineral.

Fresh.

And wonderfully persistent.

RICH, CREAMY AND BEAUTIFULLY TEXTURED – YET VIBRANT, ELEGANT AND PRECISE!

This is exactly what serious grower Champagne should be.

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of Vilmart Grand Cellier is its versatility at the table.

The combination of texture and freshness makes it particularly appealing with seafood and delicate white meats.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

The mineral freshness complements the briny character of oysters.

Pan-Seared Scallops

A magnificent pairing with browned butter.

Kingfish Crudo

Beautiful with citrus and delicate herbs.

Grilled Prawns

The wine's texture and acidity complement sweet prawns beautifully.

Sole or Turbot

An outstanding pairing with delicate butter sauces.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

The Champagne's richness and freshness make this a wonderful match.

Roast Chicken

The savoury complexity complements golden roast chicken.

Aged Comté

A magnificent pairing with the wine's nutty characters.

Serve in a proper white-wine glass at approximately 9–11°C to appreciate its texture and complexity.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about discovering wines with genuine character.

Wines that express their vineyards.

Wines made by producers who are prepared to do things differently.

And wines that deliver extraordinary quality.

Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier ticks every box.

First, there is the producer.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST DISTINCTIVE FAMILY-OWNED GROWER HOUSES!

Then there are the vineyards.

RILLY-LA-MONTAGNE PREMIER CRU!

Then there is the blend.

70% CHARDONNAY AND 30% PINOT NOIR!

Then there is the winemaking.

TEN MONTHS IN LARGE OAK CASKS!

Then there is the freshness.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

Then come the scores.

94 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR!

93 POINTS DECANTER!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $190 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves great Chardonnay, serious grower Champagne and beautifully textured wines, this is a magnificent discovery.

A Champagne with pedigree.

A Champagne with personality.

And a Champagne that combines the richness of oak maturation with extraordinary freshness and mineral precision.

94 POINTS. 70% CHARDONNAY. PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS. TEN MONTHS IN OAK. JUST $190.

Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier NV – a magnificent grower Champagne and one of the most exciting additions to the Liquid Vibe collection.

Wine Details

• Producer: Vilmart & Cie

• Wine: Grand Cellier Brut

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Rilly-la-Montagne

• Classification: Premier Cru

• Grape Varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir

• Style: Brut Champagne

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Base Wine Maturation: Ten months in large oak casks

• Malolactic Fermentation: Not undertaken

• Reserve Wines: Previous harvests; 2020 and 2021 in the documented 2022-base release

• Dosage: 8 g/L for the documented 2022-base release

• Alcohol: Approximately 12%

• Aromas: Mandarin, lemon zest, pear, white flowers, brioche and spice

• Palate: Rich, elegant and creamy, with fine bubbles, vibrant acidity and a long mineral finish

• Critic Scores: 94 Points – Wine Spectator; 93 Points – Decanter

• RRP: $190 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, prawns, sole, turbot, lobster and roast chicken

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now or cellar carefully for further development