Description
Champagne – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
The Grande Sendrée takes its name from a parcel of land covered in cinders (cendrée) after the fire which ravaged Urville in 1838. A spelling error having crept into a new version of the land register, today Sendrée is written with “s”, not “c”. On very light soils made up of “crayot”, the Chardonnay displays a very fine elegance while the Pinot Noir, with its slight predominance, brings power and great vinosity.
The 2008 vintage is considered a great year in Champagne. Harvesting began on 15 September in ideal conditions. The grapes, healthy and well formed, displayed lovely acidity and had high sugar content.
This champagne presents itself in a ravishing pale yellow robe with topaz nuances. Time has used its patina to reveal the wine’s complexity. Hawthorn blends with acacia honey, beeswax and marzipan. When it is aerated, the wine resumes its murmurings, quince jelly meets raspberry jam and alternates with bergamot and warm brioche. On the palate it is invigorating, imposing and it teases the taste buds. The bead caresses and balances wild strawberry jam with ripe blood orange. This harmony is extended in a delicate minerality and a lovely bitterness in which hints of mandarin orange come through.
Ideal as an aperitif. Goes perfectly with bouillon of cray sh and grapefruit, poached turbot with sauce hollandaise, scallop carpaccio, rack of lamb with foie gras, creamed Bresse fowl with tru es, mountain comté at least 18 months old. Serve at 7°C.
93 Wine Spectator
