Champagne Extra Brut
Dom Ruinart 2013

The Champagne Dom Ruinart by Ruinart is the prestige cuvée of the oldest Maison 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 ageing in the chalk crayères dug beneath Reims and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a reflection of a rich palette of Champenois terroirs and of that pursuit of elegance and finesse that has accompanied the Maison from its very origins.

This edition, Vintage 2013, comes from a particularly late harvest that gave great freshness and tension, and takes shape from a blend of Chardonnay alone with Grand Cru classification, 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 vats and continue with malolactic fermentation, followed by a tirage sealed under cork that preserves the aromatic freshness and by a minimum of nine years of ageing on the lees before manual dégorgement. The final dosage of 5.5 g/l, in an Extra Brut style, rounds out the profile with balance and enhances the crystalline purity of this Champagne.

In tasting, Dom Ruinart 2013 stands out for finesse, tension and mineral depth rather than power, showing a very pale white-gold robe streaked with silvery reflections and enlivened 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 aeration take on toasted nuances of hazelnut, nougat, honey and freshly ground coffee. On the palate the wine's straight, chiselled architecture 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 hints at decades of splendid evolution still ahead.