De Saint-Gall Orpale Blanc de Blanc 2008

Its prestige cuvée, Orpale, is made with 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay sourced from plots around the Côte des Blancs. Not all the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, giving the wine a particularly precise, mineral style. The quality of the 2008 vintage is immediately apparent in the superbly elegant, taut and refined nose of this Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Made with only Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, it’s classical in style. Aromas of green apple, pear and crème patisserie are complemented by a delicate salinity and smokiness on the palate. The acidity creates a buzzing linearity – so tense and poised – yet with great power and persistence. The Orpale finishes with long, chalky minerality. Everything is just as it should be here, and this 2008 is only at the beginning of its long and promising life.