Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014
Tom Hewson of Decanter writes 94 Points | Offering up an elegant yet bright bouquet, this 2014 Delamotte Blanc de Blancs opens in the glass with orchard fruits, verbena, lemon zest,pastry, and slightly reductive aromas. Chiselled and perfectly balanced, the palate is lively and intense, and expresses clearly the fruit and the straightforward nature of the 2014 vintage. Should age well for a decade or so.
Audrey Frick of JebDunnuck.com writes 94 Points | The 2014 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut is fresh and precise, with aromas of vibrant green apple, pleasant reduction with flint, and delicate smoke, citrus blossoms, and wet stone. The transition to the palate is seamless and linear, with crisp and crunchy green fruit, and is electric with lime candy, a refined mousse, and a chalky texture. It warrants more time before opening, but it is delicious and refreshing now. Drink over 2023-204
Essi Avellan, MW writes 95 Points | Here, grand cru quality is evident from the first sniff: intensity and refinement crowned by an exceptionally finely integrated toasty deliciousness. Floral fragrance marks the restrained nose with lemon-and-lime- infused orchard fruit. The palate is dancingly airy and joyously vibrant, and the energising tension continues up to the wine's long, dry pure-mineral finish. Ageing very slowly, this will reward cellaring even if it brings plentiful pleasure already. Dosage: 6.5g/l Drinking Window 2023-2035.
Winemaker Description - Vintage 2014
Its pale gold colour, glinting with emerald, illuminates the fine necklace of bubbles rising tothe surface of the disc in the glass. On the nose, the wine’s noble origins are unmistakable in the energy of its bouquet: pure,direct and deep, a strong personality. Its lively attack, palate freshness and mouth-watering minerality are a delight. But it doesn’t end there. The Epicurean will appreciate the supple fruit and notes of brioche that explode, in a dreamy finish.
Each village has its own style. Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (20%): acidity, purity and chalky minerality. Avize (20%): balance and structure. Oger (20%), warmth, body and generosity. Cramant: smoky minerality. Chouilly: robustness and length. And finally, Oiry: acidity and roundness. To reprise the musical analogy, each territory has its own score and, when they are all played together to create Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2014, each one can be heard in its own right. It is left to age over six long years. Not much, given the powerfulness of this wine. Its richness is equalled only by its concentration, and yet it remains light on its feet. It can even be generous…Such is the supreme elegance of a wine with ageing potential!
After a mild autumn and winter, the vines budded very early. The weather in spring was magnificent, with record-breaking sunshine and drought. Favourable weather in early Juneproved perfect for flowering. At the same time, it was so dry, everyone was desperate for rain.Then, rain it did! The weather went from one extreme to the other throughout the entire summer: abundant rain and August temperatures that could only be described as ‘autumnal’. We had to wait until September for a return to warm, sunny weather – and crucially, it was absolutely dry. In short,the ideal conditions for the grapes to ripen. The chardonnay grapes flourished, gaining power right up to harvest, which began on 11thSeptember for the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs. Spared any incident of pests or disease that had developed here and there in the Champagne region, our chardonnays were harvested in pristine condition. They also presented exceptionally high bunch weights – over150 grams – resulting in a comfortable yield, the ripeness balanced by fine acidity. However disconcerting the weather during the 2014 season, Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2014 has a fine future ahead.
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