Description & elaboration
The Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Chouilly 2002 cuvée from Lenoble is a vintage champagne crafted exclusively from Chardonnay. It is a champagne with notes of citrus and pineapple — lifted by a smoky thread — with a tonic, taut texture on the palate. Its saline finish makes it a natural companion for seafood. The house Lenoble produces rare, family-scale cuvées, shaped with unwavering standards across several generations.
The Terroir
The village of Chouilly, at the northern tip of the Côte des Blancs, holds Grand Cru status. The subsoil is composed of belemnite chalk, a sedimentary rock from the Upper Cretaceous period, both porous and well-draining. This substrate absorbs winter moisture and releases it by capillary action to the vine roots during dry months. The shallow layer of topsoil forces the roots to plunge several metres deep. This underground work yields grapes with a structural acidity, the mineral signature of this chalky terroir.
Winemaking
Upon arrival at the press house, the grapes undergo fractional pressing: only the first-run juice is retained. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in oak, encouraging a gradual, gentle oxygenation of the wine. Malolactic fermentation (the conversion of malic acid into lactic acid) is deliberately avoided in order to preserve the wine's vivacity and purity of fruit. The bottles then begin a maturation cycle on lees lasting 180 months (15 years) in the house's cellars. This extended contact enriches the structure through autolysis (the dissolution of dead yeasts in contact with the wine).
The 2002 vintage
The year 2002 concluded with a remarkably favourable growing cycle. A mild winter gave way to a spring free from frost, and Chardonnay flowering took place during the first half of June under stable temperatures. The summer season, marked by dry spells, kept downy mildew pressure on the foliage to a minimum. In September, a steady north-easterly wind accelerated evaporation, concentrating natural sugars while preserving acidity. Harvesting, which began in the last ten days of September, yielded a crop of rare density. The wine expresses intense aromatic richness, underpinned by an acidic structure and saline minerality that ensure its longevity in the cellar.
Tasting Notes
Colour
The colour is a golden hue with luminous highlights.
Nose
The nose reveals smoky and citrus notes, supported by toasty aromas. With aeration, toasted brioche, acacia honey and candied yellow fruits come to the fore.
Palate
The attack unveils a lively, fine bubble, wrapped in a silky texture. Flavours of roasted pineapple mingle with toasted hazelnut, while the saline finish extends the gustatory persistence.
Pairing Suggestions
- Gougères with aged Comté
- Oysters with lime
- Scallops
- Porcini mushroom risotto
- Herb-roasted sea bass
- Turbot with hollandaise sauce
- Aged Chaource
- 24-month Parmesan
- Citrus tartlet
The Plus de Bulles Expert's Opinion
Why I love it
What moves me is the balance between the richness of this sun-drenched vintage and the roundness of Chouilly. I fell for its silky palate with accents of dried fruit and honey, drawn out by a saline, persistent finish.
My recommendation
Serve it at 10–12 °C in a wine glass to unlock its full complexity. Its structure will pair beautifully with creamed turbot or chicken with morel mushrooms.
Advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75 cl) in reinforced transport cartons specially designed for champagne. After delivery, we recommend storing the bottle horizontally, away from light — ideally in a cellar, or failing that, in a cool, not too dry place with a stable temperature.
Ageing potential
The intrinsic qualities of this vintage ensure steady evolution over three decades. Stored in good conditions, this bottle will pass through several distinct aromatic phases.
- Until 2028: the profile reveals markers of ripe yellow fruits and candied citrus.
- From 2029: the olfactory palette shifts towards notes of mocha and almond.
- Around 2032: the wine reaches a tertiary stage dominated by honey and gentle spices.
Serving suggestions
We recommend serving this wine at 10–12 °C. A tulip-shaped glass concentrates the aromatic vapours and allows for a clear perception of fragrances before tasting.
A note on this cuvée
This vintage was deliberately released after an extended period of cellar ageing, allowing time to structure the wine before any commercialisation. Within the world of Champagne sparkling wines, the Blanc de Blancs category designates wines made exclusively from white-skinned grapes. Fans of the house will find it rewarding to explore other vintage cuvées representative of Chardonnay as interpreted by Lenoble. For those wishing to compare the nuances of another chalky Grand Cru sector, this pure Chardonnay champagne offers a distinct minerality and a different parcel-driven approach.
Also worth discovering: a vintage cuvée representative of Lenoble chardonnay.
Through its winemaking and aromatic profile, this cuvée is reminiscent of this pure chardonnay grand cru champagne.
Also worth discovering: Unisson Grand Cru.
