Champagne Palmer & Co. was founded nearly 70 years ago in 1947 by a group of seven growers with Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims of France. Cellar Master Xavier Berdin creates the blend using different grape varieties, cru vineyards and reserve wines. The backbone of the Blanc de Blancs is Chardonnay sourced from three cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims and the Côte de Sézanne.

In the glass, this wine gleams with a luminous, pale golden hue tinged with delicate green reflections. A fine, persistent mousse dances to the surface, offering a visual prelude to its vibrancy and refinement. The bouquet is a study in elegance, unfolding with aromas of fresh baked pâtisserie, orange blossom and acacia. The attack is lively and focused, with crisp acidity and finely chiseled limestone that carries flavors of yellow candied citrus, lemongrass and star fruits through to the complex core. The wine’s hallmark minerality lends a sense of tension and refinement with a finish that remains long and pristine. The consistent graceful and precise personality of this Champagne makes this a very compelling bottling and it is always one of my favorite Blanc De Blancs on the market.

By W Peter Hoyne