Shay A

9.2

Opened during the WB virtual taste with Thomas Champs of the Vilmart family.

Disgorged April 2022; 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot noir; 7g/dosage; no malo; 10months in oak

While I’ve had Vilmart before, I’ve not focused on the wine and its history before the way I did with this virtual taste. Normally 7g/l dosage starts to cause me to pause, but this is another example of how dosage plays so many different instruments aside from sweetness. Beautiful texture and precision. Slight reduction upon opening. Brioche, lemon cream, honeycrisp apple (not tart; ripe), sea salt, faint honey. The mineral/chalk profile is upfront and the mousse is really nice and soft/creamy. A wonderful balance in acid, fruit, texture.

Followed over two days, and I may have enjoyed day two a small bit more! Always an incredible value. — 24 days ago

Barberry Garden

9.0

Emotion unveils orange oil, red berries, bruised red apple, barberry, almonds, wet mouldy cellar and sausage roll (sic!). A bit disturbing and tempting at the same time. Pointy, oily and racy. Nice chalky finish.

Disgorged in May 2018
60 months on lees

Tasted on 2023-07-06 — 2 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.3

Refreshing. Mouthwatering lemon citrus with a clean mineral finish. Would be awesome with oysters on the half shell. TBL — 5 years ago

Remco Boer

9.0

Fresh, nice citrus. Leave to air a bit — 21 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

It’s well known that I will bring bubbles to nearly any occasion. However, when a meal presents a particularly difficult pairing, such as traditional Thanksgiving dinner, bubbles are a no brainer. Besides, we’re celebrating gratitude!

This bottle of the 2018 Grand Cellier d’OR was popped, poured and enjoyed over the course of dinner. The wine pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing; bright with remarkable notes of lemon/lime citrus, green apple, tropical fruits, raspberries, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid like fricken laser beams. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, delicious and…*ahem*…chalk-full (sic) of minerals. This is a lovely example from Vilmart who, at this point, really need no introduction. Drink now through 2038. Disgorged July of 2022. — 5 months ago

Roberto Carli

9.5

Chablis-like restraint in a very good way. Nose is tense, citrus and lots of limestone, an almost reductive floral nose and a touch of silky softness to balance. Acidity is high but not crazy, strange considering the house style is supposedly to inhibit all malo. Great stuff, I want to drink lots of it — 3 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Gorgeously lush nose with lemon oil, spritzy fine acid and minerals aplenty. A delicious midpalate with floral notes and slate. Brilliant stuff. — 5 years ago

with Bex and Major-General

Andrea Watt

9.1

Classic dry and crisp champagne with tiny bubbles, lemon, and cream over a touch of minerality. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Vilmart is a producer that I don’t see posted often. I visited this property in 10/22. Ate the fruit they left behind two- three weeks after they picked the Pinot Noir in their Clos des Goisses vineyard. So bloody delicious. Once you’ve had a steady diet of vineyard grapes, you can no longer eat table grapes. The thing to know about Vilmart, they embrace neutral wood barrels. It’s what makes their cuvées so complex…the wood & air. This is one of their entry level cuvées.

Tonight is a four-course…finishing w/ apple tart from the farmers market. Pairs nicely. The palate is; golden & green bruised apple, Bosc pear, tropical fruits-green melon, kiwi, pineapple juice, lemon & lime flesh, tangerine hues, saline/sea spray, toast, brioche, vanillin, cream, touch of ginger, moist, fine chalkiness, grey volcanic minerals, beautiful acidity, yellow lilies, jasmine, well balanced and polished finish that lasts minutes. From 375ml. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Perfect for Valentine’s Day. First things first, this is a stunning salmon rose color in the glass. Persistent perlage with a creamy mousse. Tiny little bubbles. A terrific red fruit bouquet showcasing wild strawberry, orange peels, and red cherries. Purple flowers and dried herbs compliment. But I just cannot get over this striking color.

Pure sex in a bottle. Not dainty or waifish at all, there’s some serious muscle here to go along with the innate finesse. Disgorged 10/19 with a 9 g/l dosage, the striking acidity takes care of that and provides a smooth experience on the tongue. 90/10 PN/CH this is one of the standout Rosé champagnes around. Never cloying despite the dosage, everything here is perfectly balanced and structured. Just splendid really.

Sensual in the mouth, you get a full blast of red fruit on the palate. That 15% of still red wine really shows here. Grapefruit and dried cherries are dominant with a little strawberry joining in. Peaches and cream with herbs. Medium long finish. An outstanding grower that really is a cut above the rest. — 4 years ago