Champagne Extra Brut
Dom Ruinart "chalk wrap" 2013

The Champagne Dom Ruinart by Maison Ruinart is the prestige cuvée of the oldest House in Champagne, founded in 1729, conceived as a tribute to Dom Thierry Ruinart and as the true quintessence of Chardonnay shaped by time. A Blanc de Blancs crafted exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards, it expresses all the depth of a long maturation in the chalk crayères dug beneath Reims and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a reflection of a rich palette of Champagne terroirs and of that pursuit of elegance and finesse that has accompanied the House from its very origins.

This edition, Vintage 2013, presented in a "chalk wrap" case inspired by the gypsum of the historic crayères, comes from a particularly late harvest that gave great freshness and tension, and takes life from a blend of pure Grand Cru Chardonnay, 70% from the Côte des Blancs with Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Chouilly and Bergères-lès-Vertus and the remaining 30% from the Montagne de Reims with Verzenay, Sillery, Taissy and Villers-Marmery. Vinification and fermentation take place at controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks and continue with malolactic conversion, followed by a bottling under cork that preserves aromatic freshness and by a minimum of 9 years ageing on the lees before manual dégorgement. The final dosage of 5.5 g/l, in Extra Brut style, completes the profile with balance and enhances the crystalline purity of this Champagne.

In tasting, Dom Ruinart 2013 stands out for its finesse, tension and mineral depth rather than for power, showing a very pale white-gold robe run through with silvery highlights and animated by a delicate, velvety perlage. On the nose it opens with notes of fresh citrus such as citron and lime, white flowers and a touch of tropical fruit, which with oxygenation gain toasted nuances of hazelnut, nougat, honey and freshly ground coffee. On the palate the straight, chiselled architecture of the wine combines the silky purity of Chardonnay with a vinosity sustained by lively acidity and spicy hints of white pepper, in a chalky, saline finish whose length foreshadows decades of splendid evolution still ahead of it.